Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-06-24

a. inch in diameter bored completely
though by these big-hesded rascals-
They eat but single season, pupate as
in The preceding case, and come forth
AZ images early In the spring.
They usually work on the trunk, though
| somefymes in the branches, almost al
ways on the south, the west, or the south
| west sides of the tree; and their where
aboufs NAV always be ascertained, not
onfv Inv the sawdust, but also, and more
certainty by the black color OF the Dark
| when the black color offers the sugges-
| .ion of the presence OF this borer we can
quickly become assured by sinking
! fnife into the same. If the blade pierces
the bark and goes on still little further
we NAV be sure Of the enemys presence
This borer is far more liable to attack
feeble trees. Anything therefore wnicn
serves to diminish the vitality OF the
trees promotes the ravages OF this borer.
Hence. after such a winter as we nave
inst experienced, or after having the
growth of our trees interrupted by the
removal from the nursery to our orcnards,
we are In special danger OF harm from
these destructive borers. Hence, the
coming season, when loss will be ineyita-
BILE. we should more than ever be on the
alert to mitigate the damage by our vigil
lance and care and by the timely appiica-
ton Of remedies.
The remedies for the flat-headed borer
are the same as those given for the old
borer, soap in June or July, and knlie
In September: though these grubs may
be found in July and August, and to de-
Law the cutting out till September would
often be fatal, especially to trees in newly
set orchards have known cases where
labor of this kind In July would have
paid more than 500 day, besides saw
ing great amount of vexation.
APPLE.TREE BARK LOUISE.
This is an old enemy, but though less
destructive than formerly, probably De-
cause Of parasites and mites which prey
upon it, so that, like the Hessian fly, wheat
nudge, and many other insects, IL has
probably doneits worst WORK, to Leave ~ 70
itself at the present time would be TO
yield the strife prematurely.
The bark-colored, oblong scales, so
harmless in appearance, serve from
August TO May only for protection to the
sixty or seventy wee white eggs which
are found underneath. About the first
of June the young lice appear--so small
that, though clad in yellow, they can
hardly be seen without glass. Coming
forth from under the scale they roam
about for few days; are sometimes
blown to other trees, thus spreading their
evil work; but very soon settle down to
earnest business This consists In in
sorting their tiny beaks and sucking the
vitality from the trees. Very soon a
- 60 fsr md
from an emulation, which is secretion
from the general surface. BY August
the impervious scale is complete. The
eggs are then soon deposited and the
parent louise dries up and shrinks away
TO Dotbingness.
AS the scaleis impervious to most
fluids, though oils will penetrate 1t and
destroy the eggs, the best time to night
these insects is just after the eggs hatch.
At this time soft-soap or strong soap
suds are sure death to the young lice.
Hence the trees should be washed the
first week of June with soft-soap, not
only making the application to the trunk,
but also to the main branches and limbs
as far as possible.
We thus see that an application or
soft.soap to our apple trees, made the
fret week of June, is of exceeding value.
1t not only exterminates the sappers
ozark lice), but banishes the miners
(borers). We thus understand why our
fruit trees which are thus treated seem
fairly to laugh, as il grateful for such
timely aid in banishing their enemies.
/ have no hesitation In affirming that
the apple-growe will find the above one
of the most paying operations that he can
undertake in his orchard. Let all, then,
scrape their trees early in spring, apply
soft.soap--not lye--the first OF June, and
again the first of July, not forgetting to
adjust cloth bands by the last Of June
A. j. Cook, Professor in Michigan State
Agricultural College.