American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-12-24
From the american Farmer.
TO ALL LOVERS OF FINE pEAcHR

TO ALL LOVERS OF FINE PEACHES
1t is common in this country, especially where
the soil is very good and rich, for the peach
to be much injured by an insect commonly called
slugs or wood worm. This insect is deposited in
the bark of the tree near the ground, sometimes
higher than foot, but commonly within few
inches of the earth, BY small fly; and the first
appearance of it is stuff much like saw dust, will
run out of their holes with the gum of the tree and
in a few days will get between the bark and the
wood of the tree, and if not stopped destroyed,
will not only njure the fruit, but sometimes destroy
the tree altogether. In summer, after rain, when
they have their growth, they will out with the
gum and be connected in it until they form thin
shell round them, and come out another fly; when
they come out they about "a of an inch long,
with red or brown heads; while they are preying
on the tree, they work higher up or lower down,
according TO the weather; in cold weather they go
down to the roots from the frost, and in moderate
weather they work higher up the trunk of the tree;
and, when they eat quite round the tree, the tree
will die and leave lump OF gum round the trunk
on the ground, which will appear to be mixed with
saw dust something like it. If the soil is rich
from the spontaneous growth of the tree, the bark
near the ground soon becomes rough, and there are
spots crevices where the fly deposit its eggs;
if the soil is quite poor, the tree will keep its
smoothness much longer, and there will be no har-
bour for those vermin, and the trees appear to bear
better than in rich SOIL and that is the cause why
many gentlemen say, poor, sandy SOIL suits peaches
best but the fact is, rich, light, or even little
stiff soil, will bring finer peaches than poor if prop
Ter attention is paid to those insects and the muck
|worm-the muckworm is insect more under
he roots. have tried great number OF expert
ments to destroy those insects, and beg leave to
mention few OF the most successful, for the use of
our friends and fellow citizens. Now is the time to
dig cut canal round the trunk OF the trees, say
%
can see the top of the roots them il the insect is
in it, pour hot ley 10 20 inches from the ground
on the trunk of the tree, and let it run in theittle
canal which will destroy all the insects that are
young and not yet quite through the bark, and is
good manure for peach trees; and let the canal
stand open all winter, and oil the insects that the ley
does not kill will be destroyed by the frost, as the
track will in winter get full of water and ice,
and the insects cannot in short time get down SO
far but the frost will destroy them.
If pigs could be penned often in the peach orchard.
they will destroy them, and often the nuck-worm
too. After your trees are clear OF slugs, muck
worm, &c., if you will wrap the trunk OF the trees
round with straw. sedge, sc. during summer, you
will find the BY cannot get to the bark to deposlte
its eggs, and by that means, you will have fine
peaches; if your trees are very small and young,
would not recommend the leg to be poured on them
very hot, for fear of injurns the trees but 1t the
trees are of any size, it will not hurt them for
have used it for many years with great success Tor
it is sure to destroy all that is not through the bark.
and concealed between the bark and wood. Some
gentlemen use tar with success-I tried IT, and
think it good if put on thin mixed with grease;
ashes and SCOT also good for peach trees and HOVE
er of sulphur and in fresh country, salt is fine to
put round the roots be sure and prune out all the
small twigs that crowd in amongst the bearing wood,
and do not'let your trees hold too much fruit ON
them. as by being overloaded with fruit, the trees
are often injured, and the fruit not hall so fne.
Where you have it in your power, thin them when
small as nutmeg, and in common, l-l0th Is
enough to leave on the tree Of what it would some
times hold by being left to nature.
JOHN WILLIS.
Oxford, .Nov. so, 1884,