The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-06-27
AGRICULTURAL.
Apple Tree Borer.

An article in the Rurdl for March 23d, en-
titled ITO Kill the Larvae of the Apple-tree
Borer," has attracted my attention. 1t, l
think, greatly magnifes the difficulty of
destroying the ''worm." Let me hazard an
opinion in regard to the arrangement therein
described for killing the pest. 1t is not prac-
tical to any extent. 1t would be OF no use
unless the nozzle were inserted directly into
the chamber he has eXcayated for himself
and where he is; for the idea of ever forcing
any liquid through the smass of debris he
leaves behind him, would in nine cases out
of ten utterly fail; for it would escape
through the orifces in the bark, which he
makes to dispose of the surplus debris, when
it is in his way. Enough of that.
l have dug out thousands of these pests
having had a large experience among orchards
not my own and also among nursery trees.
never found hole where one had entered
closed by the growth of the tree. Having
removed the soil around the base of the tree
to expose the presence of the ''worm," on
clearing the bark by scraping it with the back
of a. knife, his presence is indicated by
little spot, and the extrusion of greater or
less amount of chips. II he is a juvenile
Matched the current year, or only one year
old, he will be found near and little below
the oriice and is easily destroyed; as he has
cut but small place beneath the tree at all.
II bWO years Olu, uc Will D6 IOuuu luTtu6F
down the root, having cut somewhat tortu-
GUS and continually widening path and packed
it hard with debris involving more and more
of 1.-THE woody structure. This downward
path is generally about four inches long, sell
dom six. He then turns and cuts his way
up, generally keeping near the other path
and passes the place of entrance, whereupon
he commences TO cut deeper, making path
in the sound wood and keeping entirely away
frou, fhn horIy IL Iii
wards to about a foot above the place of en-
trance, cuts to near the surface, retires to the
excavation he has made, and goes through
his last change, getting his wings ready for
an active outdoor life.
think the injury to the tree is principally
done the first two years, while he is cutting
between the bark and the wood. If there is
hole through the bark i'm ho-hrssy-r tho
tree above the place Of entrance, it is too
late to look for him. He is gone-but if
there is no hole, he has not yet got away. In
that case cut down after him, remove the
dead bark and debris and follow his path
until you find an open chamber, and then it
is not difficult to dislodge or destroy him
with fine wire. An acquaintance of mine
takes small bit and after finding his bearing
bores in and follows him up in that way. 1t
is a benefit to the tree to clear the path made
of debris and dead material. I have noticed
young wood is formed at the edges; and the
healing process does not go on; but as soon
as the dead matter is removed, and the edges
cut fresh and smooth, a new deposit of wood
is made and the scar commences to heal up,
and If the wound is not too great it heals
over. 1 have found some trees with so many
old fellows that they were entirely girdled
and could not be saved.
The method of prevention mentioned in
the article referred TO, is good; but not
infallible-prehaps no method is infallible.
The nearest to that is to wrap the bottom of
the tree, from an inch or two under to foot
over ground, with cloth or paper, from the
first of May till the middle of September,
when it should be removed, to enable the
bark TO harden that it may not be injured by
the freezing of winter.
Another method of preventing mischief is
to bank the trees with earth four or five in
ches high, in the early part of the season and
remove it in the fall and cut out any borers
that may be present, before they have done
any harm. Whatever preventive may be
employed, the trees should be carefully ex-
amined once or twice year.
Have any of our readers observed that
buckwheat sown in an orchard will keep away
borers? have lately come to take charge of
large orchard, and find on examining the
trees, that in part of it where buckWheat
was raised last year, there were none of the
young larvae. Was the buckwheat the cause !?
Rural Neto Yorker.