140 OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



late through it and go to the tree. The soil should be loosened around 

 the tree so that the fumes can get to the insect. If the soil is packed, 

 it takes quite awhile for the fumes to go to the insect, and the strength 

 of it is lost. I have seen trees where the soil has been removed 

 in the wet season and the water would gather around those trees. If the 

 weather is hot, it is not good to have the sun beating on the water 

 and scorching the bark. My advice is not to remove the soil from 

 the tree for any length of time. I have been asked several times about 

 whitewashing the trunks of the trees, putting on a thick coat. It is 

 useless, so far as I know, to put whitewash on the trees at this time of 

 the year, especially where you have to take the borer out with your 

 knife. My study of the insect has been this: I have found the moth 

 flying from the first of April to the end of October, illustrating to us 

 that during the whole period we have had quite a continuous brood. 

 We all know from experience that we find in the same tree different 

 sizes of larvse, from a quarter to a half, and even one inch in length, as 

 long as the brood lasts — between the first of April and the end of 

 October. By digging out the borer at this time of the year, you need 

 not have any fear of the reappearance of the borer until after the first 

 of April. The moths of those borers which are still in the trees at this 

 time, will appear in April and fly about and lay their eggs on the trunks 

 of the trees, and these eggs will hatch a new brood the next year. One 

 can apply the preventive in April or the latter part of March when the 

 heavy storms are over. Closely watch the substance, especially if it is 

 a substance that will check. We all know that the trees are contin- 

 ually growing, and although to the eye the substance that you have put 

 on the tree does not check, if you will take a magnifying glass you will 

 notice minute cracks all through the line and the worm will enter 

 through those cracks. 



QUESTION. In leaving the roots open would the tree be affected by 

 the frost? 



Mr. EHRHORN. Well of course that would be hard to say. I think 

 it would be injurious with a heavy frost. I do not think leaving the 

 roots uncovered is a good plan, especially if you are going to have a 

 wet season; there is no object in it. If you have the borers dugout you 

 need not fear the entrance of new ones until April comes. 



THE VINE-HOPPER. 



Mr. HUTCHINS, of Marysville. I Would like to hear something 

 about the vine-hopper. I have heard that Mr. Gordon has discovered 

 a remedy which prevents them from destroying his grapes. 



Mr. GORDON. Mr. Chairman, Ladies, and Gentlemen: I did not 

 expect to have to pop up here and talk about the vine-hopper. How- 



