28 FIFTH REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION'. 
August to liud these gashes and to cut out the small grubs in the bark 
underneath, at a time when they have not descended deep into the tree. 
An observant and intelligent gardeuer could easily prevent further 
damage from such a cause. 
One of the, most formidable and deadly borers of the oak, from Maine 
to California and Texas, is the caterpillar of the Carpenter moth. In 
Europe a similar borer is dealt with m the following ways, according to 
different writers quoted by Miss Ormerod in her '-Manual of Injurious 
Insects/' A wire thrust into the "mine" or hole may destroy them. 
Paraffine injected by a sharp-uozzled syringe with as much force as pos- 
sible into the holes where the caterpillars are working is a good remedy, 
also any oily or soapy mixture (kerosene injections might injure the 
tree more than the borer). The flames of sulphur blown into the hole 
might be of use. u Where a tree is much infested, it is the best plan 
to cut it down, split it, and destroy the caterpillars within. As many as 
sixty or more caterpillars maybe taken from one tree, aud when in this 
state it will never thoroughly recover, aud it becomes a center to attract 
further attack, as well as one to spread infection.' 1 
As preventive measures, to preveut ovipositiou, the lower part of the 
trunk should b^ washed with whale oil soap of the consistency of thick 
paint. This should be done at or about the time the moth lays her eggs, 
viz, as early as April aud May in Texas, aud in June and July in the 
Northern States. 
These suggestions will also apply to the Sesiau borers of the maple, 
ash, etc. 
Prevention, and remedies against Timber-beetles and Bark-borers. — The 
family of bark-borers (Scolytidai) include those which live in the bark 
and those which descend into the wood, the latter often being called 
timber-beetles. We have given in this work some of the known facts 
regarding their habits, which are very curious. EichhofFs excellent 
work in German on European bark-beetles is replete with fresh obser- 
vations on these beetles. We may here draw attentiou to what Eich- 
hoff says concerning some causes of the undue increase of these insects, 
and their sudden appearance iu places not before frequented by them. 
The chief factors iu the growth of bark-beetles are good weather and 
sufficient nourishment. An uninterrupted dry, aud heuce hot, summer 
checks the growth of the larva, and retards the speedy development 
aud more often prevents a repetition of auother brood, than au unin- 
terrupted wet aud cold spring and summer. Hence, on account of great 
heat aud drought many trees survive which would otherwise be injured 
by the later brood of bark-beetles. The most favorable conditions for 
the increase of bark-beetles are doubtless a warm early spring and a 
warm summer, with frequent rains and a long, mild autumu. 
Other circumstances, says Eichhoff, favorable to the increase of bark- 
beetles, are strong wiuds, snow, frosts, forest tires, the devastation 
wrought by caterpillars, whereby the trees are more or less decorti- 
