Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-06-12
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To Apo ire SeSes.
The young orchard in charge of the
inexperienced fruit grower has no more
destructive enemy than the borer. yet
there are but few enemies TO the
orchard so easily controlled and des-
troyed by the experienced cultivator IS
this.
When we once correctly understand
the habits of the borer we not only
know where to look for Kim, but we
also know how to avoid him altogether.
Early writers upon his habits made
sad mistakes which have been copied
into books that are n-idered standard
works upon fruit culture.
Cultivators are generally directed TO
look for the enemy above ground, when
in point OF fact he does all of his de-
structive work below ground.
lie who expects to keep his trees free
from borers by looking for them above
ground and by plugging up the holes
with csmphor, hard soap. etc, will be
as successful in saving his trees from
destruction o. the farmer would be In
keeping his horse in safety by locking
the stable door after the horse 10 stolen.
By careful observation it has been
found that the miller that lays the eggs
hovers around the trunks of the trees in
the shade of the evening during the
months Of June. and when 3 tree pos
.essing just the righ, conditions is found.
deposits from three to six eggs near the
surface of the ground; the most favor
able conditions are All uneven surface
caused by wounds or the work OF 3
former geaerstion of borers, which un-
even surface must be moist or the eggs
will not be kept in proper condition
10 hatch.
When the eggs are Matched the little
worms take downward course, each
by itself. increasing the distance from
each other IS they increase the distance
from the starting point; in September
they will be found from two 10 three
inches from the point where the eggs
were laid jus, under the outside bark.
and SO near has been their course that
they have left streak resembling iron
rust. Sharp eyes will easily discover
their exact location by following the
streak 10 its termination aud with the
point OF knife destroy them; il left
unnolested they will keep on their
four to six inches from the starting
point. where they probably spend their
first winter; early in the Spring they
turn their course upward, eating on the
aides Of their downward passage. and
IS they increase in size they eat deeper
into the bark and wood of the tree.
During the second summer they do
most of their destructive work, and If
four be unmolested and live. if the tree
Is not more than three inches in diane
ter, they will be very likely to com.
ple.ely girdle the tree and thus destroy
il.
Sometimes in October they make
their way TO point near where the
eggs were deposited, and there bore .
hole into the wood Of the tree about an
inch from the bark, running up six TO
eight inches, where they approach the
bark 30 near the surface that the miller
can push itself out in this position the
worm spends the winter and transforms
itself from q very disgusting worm to .
respectable locking. but not beautiful,
miller. which makes its way cut the
last OF May or early in June. When
the worm has started on his upward
passage BY boring into the tree. unless
he can be reached with . small round
stick Of whalebene, he had better be
left unmolested. ~ to cut him on.
would ipj1re the tree much more than
the small hole be would bore.
A very sasy way 70 prevens injury BY
this pest Of The orchard is TO improve
the first warm day after 18th Of Nay
to scrspe the trunk osthe tree from .
few inches below the surface Of the
ground TO foot or more above. remov-
ing oil Of the rough portions ofthe bark.
and killing oil berers that previous neg
lect may have permitted to find lodg-
ment; the trunk of the tree should then
be protected with . mound made Of
coarse sand or fne gravel reaching
shove the surface Of the ground from
six to twelve inches, according to the
siza and condition Of the tree; il shoui ID
be high enough TO cover all scars and
wounds made By borers, and small
enough in diameter to keep dry several
inches on the top. 1t is very rare that
miller will lay eggs on q smooth sur
face and in contact with drv earth; il
they do it 10 still more ARE for them to
hatch.
The mound Of earth should be per-
mitted to remain until the first of Sep
tember. when it should be taken AWAY
and the trees examined. TO remove sny
bofers that mag have been overlook ed
IN the spring, and to scrspe OF any new
ones II any may chance to have hatched |:
bat II the work has been properly done.
ninety- aine trees out Of every hundred
win have escApsd The enemy.
Many writer's recommend wood
ashes. bat repented trials have proved
that . hundred borers and Iodgmsnt in
tssss pssleotsd With ashes. where one
viii In trses protected with gravel.
Ths cost 10 20 triAiag that every one
en- a0ord to try it.-CFIosekmas.