436 



HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 



those caterpillars which are so late in laying 

 their eggs seldom arrive at maturity, as the fruit 

 is taken off the tree before that time." To di- 

 minish this insect, the fallen apples, as well as 

 all those on the trees which show symptoms of 

 having grubs in them, should be collected and 

 given to the pigs, or otherwise disposed of. The 

 loose bark should also be yearly removed from 

 the stems and branches of the trees ; for under 

 this the moths have deposited many of their 

 eggs, and under it the pupa spins its cocoon 

 from which the young moths emerge in the 

 spring. A good plan with such trees as are 

 badly affected by this ' insect, is to paint them 

 over, during winter, with spirits of tar. Dust- 

 ing the tree with powdered hot lime, and burn- 

 ing straw or other refuse, so as to cause a con- 

 siderable smoke to windward of the trees, will 

 also greatly lessen the number of these insects. 



The small bark-beetle, or apple-tree scoly- 

 tus (Scolytus hcemorrhous of Megetie), fig. 178, 

 Fig. 178. 



Fig. 179. 



SMALL BARK -BEETLE, AND SECTION OF WOOD SHOWING 

 ITS RAVAGES. 



is one of the borers, or those which perforate 

 the bark and often the woody trunks of trees, 

 causing destruction where it abounds. Schmid- 

 berger is, however, of opinion, that it only attacks 

 diseased or unhealthy trees ; but of this there 

 are doubts. It appears to multiply very fast ; 

 and no other remedy has apparently been fallen 

 upon, except cutting down the infested trees, or 

 removing them altogether. Towards the end 

 of May they form numerous furrows in the 

 inner bark, and in each furrow so formed de- 

 posit a white egg, which shortly afterwards pro- 

 duces a white larva, which lives upon the bark 

 until the autumn, occasionally feeding upon the 

 sap wood, and leaving the outer bark as a pro- 

 tection from the weather, and to conceal itself 

 from its natural enemies. It is fortunately not 

 very common in Britain. 



The apple weevil, Curcvlio (Anthonomus) 

 pomorum of Fabricius, fig. 179, which, exclusive 

 of the proboscis, is scarcely a line and a 

 half long, is often the cause of the total 



APPLE WEEVIL. 



loss of the apple-crop. Its wing-cases are of 

 a dark-brown colour, marked with whitish- 

 grey stripes; its rostrum, 

 eyes, and the under part of 

 the abdomen are black. It 

 makes its appearance as soon 

 as the blossom -buds are 

 pretty full of sap, and soon 

 after begins to lay its eggs, 

 which, according to the state 

 of the weather, are hatched 

 from the beginning to the 

 end of April. The female 

 bores a hole with her pro- 

 boscis in the centre of the 

 blossom, and therein deposits 

 her egg, proceeding in the 

 same manner until every blos- 

 som in the bud she has chosen 

 has been perforated and ten- 

 anted by an egg each. She travels from bud to 

 bud until she has laid her complete complement, 

 which, although not correctly known as to num- 

 bers, must yet be large, from the devastation com- 

 mitted. The warmer the weather is, the sooner 

 the eggs are hatched ; and hence in seasons that 

 are late, and the fine weather setting rapidly in, 

 we find much less injury done to the blossoms 

 than in others when the progress of vegetation 

 is more slow. As soon as the grub or larva is 

 hatched, it commences its attacks on the fructi- 

 fication, and devours it entirely. The appear- 

 ance of the blossom now is as if it were scorched, 

 and if cut open, a small white grub, with a black 

 head, will be found, which by degrees turns to 

 a yellowish colour, and in a few daj T s afterwards 

 will be found in the perfect beetle state. During 

 summer these beetles remain on the trees, and 

 feed on the foliage, and in autumn ensconce 

 themselves under the loose bark on the stem 

 and larger branches. The application of vege- 

 table spirits of tar to the trunks and branches, 

 during winter, is by far the most effectual way to 

 lessen their numbers, if not totally rid our trees 

 of them. 



The oblong weevil, Curculio (Polydrusus) 

 oblongus of Linnaeus ; Nemoicus oblong/is of Ste- 

 phens, fig. 180, is both a numerous and destruc- 

 tive insect, in size only 

 two lines long, and rather 

 more than a line in 

 breadth. Its antennae and 

 feet are reddish, its ely- 

 tra furrowed, and of a 

 reddish-brown or black- 

 ish colour ; its body, 

 head, and thorax quite 

 black. It seems to feed 

 on all fruit trees alike, 

 and on the peach and 

 apple in a particular de- 

 gree, preferring the young 

 and tender leaves to all 

 others. Pairing takes place 

 in spring, and in June the 

 female buries herself in 

 the earth, and lays her 

 eggs there, and the grub, 

 oblong weevil. when hatched, lives on the 



