The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-03-30
The Insects


render fruit growing precarious business
in many parts of the country, and even tc
cause the cultivation of many kinds to b,
wholly abandoned.
The caterpillar is Matched in the early
spring from collar Of eggs deposited around
a branch the preceding summer by the moth.
er butterfly. 1t begins to feed upon the
tender leaves Of the apple and some other
trees as soon as they appear, and increases
IN size and capacity for destruction with the
growth Of the foliage, destroying it as fast as
it grows. When numerous, 1t has been
known to strip whole orchards oftheirlcaves,
thus destroying the fruit crop for the season i,
and sometimes proving fatal to the trees.
The remedy, however, is efficient and cas-.
lily applied. In the early morning, while
the due is on the foliage, sprinkle fine air.
slaked lime freely over the tree. The cat.
erpillsr will drop almost as soon as touch.
ed by the subtle dust, or perish while hold.
ing to the leaf. The same remedy is equal
ly efficient in regard to the "Trip of the grape
leaf, and the slug that depastures upon the
foliage of the cherry.
While the caterpillar is depredating on
the leaves of the tree, the 6orer, more
subtle and dangerous enemy, is often at
work at the roots.
The borer is the larya of a brown beetle,
striped with white. which, like thief, sci.
dom shows itself in the day time, but flies
about at night in the early summer, and
| covertly attacks the tree near the surface of
the ground, where itmakes a small hole in
the bark, deposits its eggs, and trusts to
nature to hatch them into life. The young
worm feeds at first upon the tender bark,
until, growing larger and stronger, it strikes
iuto the "pith of the NATTER eating away
the wood Of the apple tree, so that it may
fall before the first puff of wind, or die stand.
ing on its mutilatcd roots. This pest is also
particularly fond Of the ounce, which can
only be saved from it by close watching. -
When the pear worked upon ounce stocks,
1t is necessary to set tho roots below the
surface Of the ground for the security of the
stock where the two woods meet.
The rcmedy-the only sure remedy we
| KNOWS the knife, aud n pointed instru.
| mcnt TO impalc it in its holes. An spplica.
ton Of ashes has been recommended as a
cure but we have't d it and found that it
destroyed both borcr and tree Coal ashes
or lime, applied judiciously, may be pre-.
ventivc, but so also is the earth drawn IN
Ground the trunk and pressed hard, SO that
the butterfly cannot penetrate it. Better
than either is a small piece of oilcloth tied
tightly to Tie trunk Of the tree, and drawn
down to the ground where the lower parts
are covered with earth, TO prevent the insect
reaching tue bark.
The bark lonse IS a less formidable enemy
than either caterpillar or borer. 1t attach.
| es to the young and smooth bark of the ap
pie and pear, sucking their juices and re.
'ard'ns their growth, until, finally, it dc.
stroys the tree altogether if not removed. -
A single washing with strong soap. suds will
generally clsct the tree OF them, and restore
its visor, if attended to in time.
The apple worm and the curculio, or plum.
weevil, affect the fruit only. The first en-
! ters at the blossom, aud foeds at the core of
the apple, causing 1t to fall prematurcly
from, the tree. The Curculio is small
brown insect that stings the young and tend.
or fruit, dcpositing Its egg in the flesh Of
plum, neotarine or apricot, where it soon
! matches aud commences, in the larva state,
to feed upon the fruit 1t is so destructive
that tree loaded with young fruit will some.
times not have single specimen left to ar.
rive at maturity.
Remedies and preventives, in great mum.
bers, have been tried with only partial sue.
! cess. Bottles, half,filled with swcetencd
I water, are sometimes hung IN the tree, and
capture few. Spreading cloth on the
ground under the tree, and then Earring the
tree while the insect is partly torpid with
the cold, in the carly morning, will cause
many TO fall, when they may be easily dc.
stroyed. Strong smelling herbs, such as
tansy and elder leaves and blossoms, or
other nauseous matters not agreeable to the
oltactory nerves of the insect, are hung
among the branches, in hopes the insect
will give them wide berth. But the best
preventive is to dust the trees with sulphur
or limo when wet with dew. This method
will sometimes keep the insect from the
fruitif applied in proper season, taking care
to renew the application whenever tho rain
washes the dust from the leaves and fruit.