OF THE FARM Ai^D GARDEiiT, 



145 



other, it is possible that this particular species has been 

 accused of raore than it deserves. It is, however, but 

 far too common in the Valley of the Mississippi, and 

 along the Iron Mountain and Pacific railroads; it is even 

 more common than the preceding species. 



Mr. G-. Paul, of Eureka, states that it has killed fifty 

 apple trees for him, and Mr. Yotaw, and many others in 

 that neighborhood have suffered from it in like manner. 

 It is also seriously affecting the soft maples by riddling 

 them through and through, though it confines itself for 

 the most part to the inner bark, causing peculiar black 

 scars and holes in the trunk. Unless its destructive work 

 is soon checked, it bids fair to impair the value of this 

 tree for shade and ornamental purposes, as effectually as 

 the Locust-borers have done with the Locust trees. 



Eemedies. — Dr. Fitch found that this borer was at- 

 tacked by the larvae of souie parasitic fly belonging prob- 

 ably to the Chalcis family, but it is greatly to be feared 

 that this parasite is as yet unknown in the West. At all 

 events this Flat-headed borer is far more common with 

 our Eastern brethren. As this beetle makes its appear- 

 ance during the months of May and June, and as the eggs 

 are deposited on the trunk of the tree, as with the pre- 

 ceding species, the same method of cutting them out, or 

 scalding them can be ap^olied in the one case as in the 

 other; while the soap preventive is proved to be equally 

 effectual with this species as with the other. It must, 

 however, be applied more generally over the tree, as they 

 attack all parts of the trunk, and even the larger limbs. 



THE APPLE-TWIG BORER. 

 (Amphicerus bicaudatus, Say.) 



The Apple-twig borer is a modest looking dark-brown 

 insect, the thorax rounded and rough-punctured, espec- 

 ially in front where it is produced into two little horns, 

 7 



