Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-06-22
Apple BOrer.

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Apple BOrer.
This is one among the mum erous
enemies that the fruit culturist must
encounter and overcome if he would
preserve his trees and enjoy their ben
etits.
In some sections ofthe country they
are much more numerous than with
us, and have frequently destroyed
whole orchards when neglected.
They are increasing here, and unless
attention is paid to the trees and the
insects destroyed, the destruction of
apple ounce and mountain ash trees
will be universal A neighbor had
several beautiful European Mountain
Ash's which he had imported and
cuItiva with great care killed last
year. Another has several large,
beautiful apple trees now standing
without leaf upon them, but full of
bloom and ready to die. They show
in their death how well they would
have repaid a little attention-a mo-
ment of time, by the luxury and health
imparting influence of their fruit.
The Apple Borer (&perda Belt ia
ta) is striped bug about half an inch
in length. 1t flies at night and de-
posts Its eggs from the middle of May
to the 18th of July in the bark Of the
tree, just at the surface Of the ground,
or in the collar. They sometimes
deposit their eggs in the forks of
branches. The eggs soon hatch and
the grubs commence their work of
destruction. They sometimes perfo-
rate the entire body ofthe tree and af-
ter remaining two or three years ac-
complishing their work. they emerge
from the tree in the beetle form in
May or June, ready to renew the at
tack.
There is wisdom in the adage that
an "ounce OF preventive is worth a
pound of cure. frees should be
carefully examined to see if there
are evidences of the borer, at least
twice year. A man can examine
hundreds in day and sxtermnate
the insects if found. Their presence
is easily discovered. The first indi-
cations are small round perforations
of the bark. These will soon become
more distinguishable by the chips and
dust elected from them If no grubs
are found then steps should be imme
diately taken to prevent the eggs be-
ing deposited. This can be done by
placing a mound of ashes or air slack
ed lime around the trunk in the spring
and letting it remain until after July.
The ashes or lime prevent the beetle
from reaching the soft bark near the
base of the tree. J. J. Thomas in
the "Fruit Culturist," recommends
that the soil be removed little about
the roots, and then that the whole
trunk and larger forks of the branches
be washed with a mixture of soft
soap, tobaccO-water and -four of sui
phur. The proportion recommended
are pint of sulphur, a gallon of soft
soap and enough tobacco water to re-
duce the whole to the consistency of
paint. This should be done before
the eggs are deposited in the bark.
In recommending this latter method
ofprevention Mr. Thomas says: sit is
stated by A. J. Downing, that this
mixture is so offensive to the insect
in its winged state, that no tree was
touched which had been coated with
it; although the coating had been on
for several weeks"
lfit is discovered that the eggs
have been deposited, or that the grub
is at work, steps must be taken to
destroy them at once. At first the
grub can be cut out with a knife and
without injury to the tree. The eggs
can always be cut away. 1.-THE grub
has penetrated some distance t can
be punched to death by a flexible
wire. Dr. Harris, Prof. of Entomol-
ogy in Harvard University, recon
mends placing a bit of Camphor in
the mouth of the hole made by the
borer, and plugging it with soft wood
Mr.. Downing Recommended inject
ing the liquii wash before described
into the holes in the spring, and plug
ging them up with pieces of soft wood
dipped in tobacco-water, to prevent
the escape ofthe perfect iasect.
Every man who owns tree should
examine it carefully two or three
times year. 1t will amply repay
him for all his trouble. Indeed it is
no trouble. 1t is atrue pleasure to a
lover otnature and OF fruit, as well
as to the lover ofmoney, to be among
his trees, to watch the progress OF
their growth-to shield them from
their enemies-to increase their fruit
fulness. No matter what may be
his profession or his business, that
man is not thrifty or a wise man
who neglects his fruit treas. No bet
ter evidence ofslothfulness and i'm
pending poverty can be seen than an
orchard with here and there a tree
destroyed by the borer, and the re-
mainder filled with the webs of cater
pillars. The genuine cultivator OF
fruit regards his trees as part Of
his household, and believes with the