The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1858-06-05
MISCELLANEOUS.
Apple Tree Borer.
From Eitch's NoxiOus Inse cts.

From Ftch's Noxi0us Insects.
s'Iu the treatment of the apple tree
borer, to use medical term, there are
two ssindications. The first is, protect
the tree from attack the second, 10 des-
troy the worm. And as we have simple,
direct and etfectual modes for accom-
plishing both these purposes, there is no
occasion for dwelling upon those OF doubt
tul efficacy or inconvenient to be applied.
"Experiments amply show that aka
line preparations Of suitable strength are
most repulsivc, nay, directly poisonous to
most insects and their larvae, whilst up
ON vegetation they have an opposite et
feet, promoting the health and accelera-
ting the growth ofplants. Of these prep
aralions, one OF the least expensive, on
which is everywhere ut hand, and of suit
able strength for being applied freely to
the outer bark Of trees without danger of
eroding or otherwise injuring its texture,
is common soft soap. Many citizens from
all parts of our State, who were present
| at the last annual meeting of the State
Agricultural Society, will rccollect the
high encomiums passed upon this article
by the Hon. A. B. Dickinson, and his
statement that handful of it placed in
the axis of the lower limbs was sover-
eign prophy lastic, repelling all sinsects
from the tree. Although We cannot
deem the application OF this Substance in
this simple manner such a panacea as was
intimated. indeed, we are confident it
could have no effect to prevent a moth or
a plant Iouse from alighting and dispo-
sing its eggs upon the distant leaves aud
twigs--yet against all those insects which
infest the trunk or which are obliged to
crawl up the trunk to gain access TO the
tree, we have little doubt it will prove an
eEectual safeguard Washed downwards
as IT w,l ve sy che rains, so - to lnpreg
nate the bark over the chief part ut the
trunk and to the very root, there is lit
tie probability that the beetle Of the ap-
ple-tree borer will venture to deposit its
eggs 10 situation where those eggs, OR
the young worms which proceed from
them, will be exposed to destruction from
encounteriug this alkaline matter. The
late Mr.. Downing (iorticulturist, vol, ii,
D. 53l) recommended mixture of soap,
sulphur and tobacco water, with which to
pain: the bark of the tree Immediately
above the surface Of the ground, and in
the axis of the lower limbs; subsequent
ly (vol iv, p, $500 he recommends SOAP
merely thinned with tobacco water to the
consistence of thick cream, to be appiec
to the same places. According to his
: : observations, the borer entirely forsook
the trees which were thus washed, ever
though the mixture had been appliet
,, some weeks previous to the appearance,
of the winged beetle. There can be lit
, tie doubt that the efficacy Of these pre-
: scriptions cf Mr. Downing depends chief
: ", if not entirely, upon the soap the,
contain. 1t will be as well therefore II
apply this alone, in the manner in which
; it is used by Senator Dickeuson, or b.
rubbing it in the axis of the lower limb
and around the base Of the tree, thes
. being the parts which are liable to be at
tackled by this insect. In all orchard
> where the borer is present or where
), visit from it is apreLended. this measur
should invariably be resorted to the lat
ter part of May, or in more northen looa
iites, where the beetle will he somewha
later in appearing, early in June. loun
: thrifty trees, especially, should be atteu
: ded to, as this insect appears to be pal
!. ticularly inclined to infest them.
"With regard, in the next place,
destroying the worm, where the tree
have been neglected and the beetle hs
been permitted TO invade them and d.
{ posit its eggs. If time permits, the o
" chard should be examined the last of A,
r, gust, aud the outer surface Of the bark
the root scraped, to detect any black spo
10 therein; for at this time the minus
TO worms in the bark can be more easily dt
stroyed than at any subseqept period, an
sr before they have done any injury to Il
ID tree It is the practice of Esq. Baidwl
ID to wash the butts Of his trees with stror
lye the last Of August. The newly hato
N ed grubs are now but slightly sunk
to the bark. The lye penetrates the SIN;
as orifces which they have formed and d
IN stroys them. He makes it an invariab
ct rule thus to wash his trees every yea
ct and since he commenced this treatme
| it is very rare that he has found Dor
n in them.
ne But il, through the pressure Of 9th
m avocations during the busy SUNNI
d, months, the orchard has been neglect
to and these borers have penetrated t
| wood, they should be carefully search
out and destroyed for they continue
We cause irritation and injury to the tree
nd long as they remain in it. Before I
fall Of the leaf, trees which are badly
- tested may be known by their sick
ny chlorotic appearance. Mr.. Ashton
Is forms me, an experienced person can
Ter silly determine when young trees are 81
pc fsring from the borer, by taking hold
act them and swaying them to and fro.
ic- tested trees, when thus handled, feel
nat though they were loose at the roots,
or consequence, no doubt, Of having so =
ny Of their fbers cut of by the worl
no whilst unaffected trees feel more st
'ho and - though they we're firmly bound
yer the SOIL But at all seasons Of the y
the presence Of this worm can be ~
'er, readily and certainly ascertained bv