Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1856-10-04
Tor Lhs pall.s rall.
Horticulture.

Do apples succeed in Texas3 Yes; we see
it announced in the papers that Mr.. Baker
near PARIS, has successfully cultivated the ap.
pie tree for fifteen years past, and realizes u
considerable profit from the sale of the fruit.
But does the apple tree succeed in Dallas
county! Yes y | have never ate finer early
Harvest" Than have raised and eaten in this
county. Then, why in the name Of common
sense do you not raise stalks, bud or graft
choice variety OF frui, upon them, and trans.
plant them into orchards Ia answer TO this
may state, that there have been imported
from our sister States several thousands of
CRAFTS Of the most valuable kinds OF fruit, and
sold in Dallas and the nd dacent counties that
for several years the rabbits girdled them so
regularly in the winter that they could never
attain to any size, and finally died out. It is
certain that every imaginable remedy was
tried TO prevent them, but up to this time il
may be stated with confidence that there is no
certain remedy known, or At least within our
reach. Il may then be asked why we do nor
cultivate the tree in pp!cd gardtnS inaccessible
to these annoying yermn. answer that we
have tried it cticclually, and can assure lhe
readers OF the Herald that il no country does
The tree grow of more vigorously than here ;
yet they soon fall prey 10 much more dan
gcrous enemy-,l mean the "borcr." | have
had several hundred Wees, many of which at
aned to considerable size, but gradually, year
after year. fell prey to thIs destructive insect
have no doubt, if some efcctua means We're
adopted to secure the tree from the rayaoes of
this insect, that we could raise as fine apples
here as anywhere in the south. Downing, in
his "Fruit and Fruit Trees of America" SAYS
that the borer is the Larvae Of striped beetle
half an inch in length that it remains in the
grub state two or three years then, assuming
wings, issues from the tree seeking its food at
night and finally in the months of June and
July, deposits lis eggs in the collar Of the tree
at the surface Of the earth. He also says that
the attacks of the borer may be prevented BY
placing mound of lime or ashes about the
root of the tree, earl in tile spring have
tried both without success He further init.
mates that the insect may be destroyed by in
serting flexible wire into its hole. This
have found to be true, yet in nine cases out of
ten the tree is ruined before you are aware of
the presence of the insect. doubt the gener-
ally received opinion, that the insect always
deposits its eggs at the base Of the tree. have
frequently noticed, in a nursery, the upper
branches of young tree die sudden My in the
growing season and, when closely examined,
found the entrance of the insect at the base of
a bud, whence it proceeds downward, following
the pith of the branch until it attains strength
to attack the wood 1t then devours with
avidty the sap wood. soon destroying tie
branch and this to an observer is the first in
nmation of its presence. IN large trees it fire.
quently descends into the body OF the tree,
where it probably remains for year or two,
making latent though deadly ravagcs upon it.
When the tree is nearly or quite ruined, black
patches of loose bark appear, which on being
removed present quantities of worm.dusf, TO-
gether with the hole into the centre of the
tree, to which the insect probably retreats after
having satisfied his hunger, or perhaps to seek
new points Of attack upon the vitality of the
tree.
lfony ofyour readers can suggest remedy
for the insidious ravages of this insect, they
will confer benefit upon others as well as
w. F.