THE WHITE-PINE WEEVIL. 
739 
Fig. 5, Plate xxvn, is from a photograph of a white pine tree in East 
Providence, R. I., which is of the same general shape, but a smaller 
and shorter tree, still growing in a thick wood, its fellows, however, 
much smaller. The tree is about 70 feet in height and 32 inches thick 
before it branches, the trunk sending out nine branches, the lowermost 
being about 3 feet from the ground. 
In these two examples we should judge that the terminal shoot only 
was destroyed by the weevil, while the lateral shoots survived, but 
grew more vertically than they would have done if the terminal shoot 
had not been injured, while their size became unnaturally large. 
It is comparatively easy to prevent this deformation of small young 
trees in lawns and about houses or even on large plantations if the dis- 
ease is combated in time ; the wilting terminal twig should be exam- 
ined and the grubs cut out. If a wash of Paris green were applied or 
a block of carbolic acid soap securely placed in the crotch the grubs 
would be destroyed or driven off. The time to apply the remedies is at 
the middle or end of July. 
We add Fitch's account of this weevil : 
This is a common insect in New York, and specimens of it may be found arouud 
and upon pine trees at all times of the year, 
but it is iu the mouth of May that they are 
abroad in the greatest numbers, and it is 
chiefly at that time that their eggs are depos- 
ited. Young thrifty-growing pines are its fa- 
vorite resort, and among these it selects those 
that are most vigorous, and whose topmost 
shoot has made the greatest advance the pre- 
ceding 3 7 ear. But I have seen it so numerous 
that not ouly the topmost shoots of every 
tree in the grove, but many of the lateral ones 
also, were invaded and destroyed by it. 
It is in consequence of its smooth straight growth to sucb a lofty height that the 
pine has been prized beyond auy other timber for large buildings and bridges, and 
is especially valua de for the masts of ships. So very highly were the American 
pines esteemed for this last purpose, at an early day, that they were ranked with the 
precious metals, and a large portion of the lands of the State of New York were 
originally granted by the British crown, with an explicit reservation of "All mines 
of Gold and Silver, and also all White and other sorts of Pine trees fit for Masts, of 
the growth of twenty-four inches diameter and upwards at twelve inches from the 
earth, for Masts for the Royal Navy of us, our heirs and successors," under the strin- 
gent condition that " If they, our said grantees or any of them, their or any of their 
heirs or assigns, or any other person or persons by their or any of their privity, con- 
sent or procurement shall fell, cut down or otherwise destroy any of the Pine trees 
by these presents reserved to us, our heirs and successors, or hereby intended so to 
be, without the Royal Licence of us, our heirs or successors for so doing first had and 
obtained, that then, and in any of these cases, this our present grant, and every thing 
therein contained, shall cease and be absolutely void, and the lands and premises 
hereby granted shall revert to and vest in us, our heirs and successors, as -if this Our 
present grant had not been made, any thing herein before contained to the contrary 
in any wise notwithstanding." Now the perfect straightness of the pine, which has 
adapted it so eminently for this important use, and has caused it to be thus valued, 
Fig. 358.— White-pine weevil; a, larva; 0, 
pupa, enlarged nearly three times. — From 
Packard. 
