4 



AFFECTING THE EOOT. 



1. The Apple-root Plant-Louse (Eriosoma [Pemphigus] pyri, Fitch).— In many 

 parts of the Western States, especially in Illinois, young apple-trees are affected by a disease 

 in the roots, produced by the attacks of a woolly Plant-louse. This minute creature works 

 cinder ground, and produces upon the roots, swellings and excrescences of all sorts of 



Fig. 1. 



shapes and sizes $ these interfere materially with the tree's supply of nourishment, and 

 when very numerous occasion its death. Dr. Hull, of Alton, 111., considers it tc one of 

 the worst enemies with which our apple-trees have to contend," and states that it is much 

 more common than is generally supposed. In 1848 it was found so abundant in Chester 

 county, Penn., that thousands of young trees had to be thrown away ; and of late years 

 it has been very injurious in many localities. It will be well, therefore, for Canadian 

 iruit growers, and especially nurserymen, to be on the look-out for this creature, and when- 

 ever they find their trees less vigorous than they should be, and the leaves of a sickly ap- 

 pearance, they should examine the roots for the presence of this insect, provided there is 

 no trace of borer or other obvious cause of disease. Though we have never heard of its 

 working any mischief in Canada, it is yet as well that fruit growers should be warned of 

 its existence, and be prepared to deal with it when they find it. 



The Apple-root Plant-louse is a little over a tenth of an inch in length, including the 

 closed wings, and of an opaque color ; though so very minute it may be easily recognized 

 by the peculiar bluish-white cottony matter which it exudes from its body, and which is 

 never met with in the ease of the common apple- tree plant-louse that inhabits the leaves 

 and the tips of the twigs. The easiest mode of getting rid of it is to drench the infested 

 roots with hot water, which, though hot enough to destroy the life of the insect, is not 

 injurious to the vegetable organization. (Amer. Ent., Jan. 1869.) In the case of. young 

 trees that are being transplanted, these insects may be destroyed by dipping the roots in 

 strong soap suds or tobacco water. 



AFFECTING THE TRUNK. 



2. The Two-striped Borer (Saperda biviUata, Say). — This insect and the species 

 that follows are among the worst foes of the apple that we have in this country, their 

 attacks are so insidious and the damage they inflict is so great ; they both work in the 

 wood of the trees, usually in the trunk, though the latter, as we have observed, occasion- 

 ally in the branches also. The Two-striped Borer is only found in certain districts of the 

 country, but it is to be feared that it will ere long spread throughout the length and 

 breadth of it. It is very common in the Niagara district of this Province, and in many 

 parts of the Province of Quebec, especially in the immediate neighborhood of the 

 cities of Montreal and Quebec (Gouper, Can. Fat. vii. 278) ; we have never met with it, 

 however, on the north shore of Lake Ontario, nor has it been taken in the neighborhood 

 of London, Ont. It is very destructive in many parts of the United States, attacking 

 the quince, pear, mountain ash and hawthorn as well as the apple. Mr. Riley (First 

 Missouri Report, p. 43) states that he has invariably found it more abundant in trees grow- 



