The record-union., 1891-04-20
PROTECTION OF FRUIT TREES.

The entomologist of the State Board OF
Horticulture, Alexander Cav, reports
to the board that there have been i'm
ported from the East and set out large
numbers of peach and other deciduous
fruit trees in recent seasons, and that it
is incumbent upon California orchardists
to be upon their guard against the peach
tree borer of the East that has been i'm
ported with the trees. Mr.. Cav has in
spected nearly all large lots of trees re-
ceived from the East in this season and
in some of them has found the larva OF
the borer. In all such cases notice was
given to owners to disinfect the trees by
immersion in strong and hot solution
of whale oil soap. But it was found that
a gummy exUdation sometimes protects
the borer, SO that enough escape treat
ment to infect the tree anew. Whenever
it is discovered that this is likely to be the
case the only remedy is to destroy the
tree by fire.
This new pest resembles wasps, or
1chneumon flies, more than moths, and
it flies in the day time. The body of the
female is of a glossy blue color, with a
purplish reflection and broad band OF
orange-yellow across the abdomen. The
fore wings are Opaque and similar in
color to the body, and their tips and
fringes have purplish tint, both above
and beneath. The posterior wings are
transparent and margined with steel
blue; the wing expanse is nearly an inch
and half. The male is smaller and more
slender; the thorax is marked with yell
low and the abdomen has two bands of
the same color on the upper side. The
wings, unlike those of the female, are
transparent, the fringe steel blue. Unlike
the female its artenn@ are fringed with
very short pairs. The legs have yellow
markings.
The larva, when full grown, measures
nearly an inch in length; it is soft
whitish-yellow grub, with dark-brown
head and jaws; upper part OF first seq
ment is horny and deeper yellow than
the balance of the body. 1t has three
pairs of short, spine-ike legs. The five
pairs of hind fleshy pro-legs are yellow,
each margiued with fringe of very
minute reddish-brown hooks. Over the
body are scattered a number of very
short, reddish-brown hairs. The habits
of this species are similar to the Califor-
pia peach tree borer.
Mr.. Cav recommends fruit-growers
this spring TO examine the soil a few
inches deep around the tree trunk, to
brush the stem, and if there is excess OF
moisture or green in any part, it is to be
taken as an indication that the borer,
either of Eastern or California variety, is
present, unless the tree has been injured
in cultivating. The suspected spot should
then be healed by carefully removing the
bark and cutting in the direction of the
burrow until the larva is found and cut
out The part should then be covered
with moist soil. If however, the surface
cut is large, and the sap root is cut away,
the part should be allowed to dry, and
then two coats of rubber paint applied,
and covered with clean sand.
The entomologist's advice is to attack
these pests before the tree has been in
tested. He urges preventive measures
like that described, and such as banking
the earth high about the trunk, instead OF
waiting until insect pests attack the tree.
These banks ought to be made as early as
May, before the moths deposit their eggs,
and be kept up until winter. The bank
ing system does not prevent the assault
OF the pests, but makes it much easier to
reach them, and keeps them from the
roots. OF course the banks should be
removed before the heavy winter rains.
Another method is to remove one or two
inches of the soil and wrap the tree with
band of stout paper six or eight inches
wide, tie the upper edge with twine or
stranded baling-rope, and cover the
lower edge with soil; straight straw OF
tule will answer the same purpose. Strips
of galvanized wire screen, the same as
used for windows or doors, cut in widths
of six or eight inches, are also recon-
mended. This protector is held in posi-
ton by removing little of the soil few
inches from the trunk of the tree, so as to
prevent the wire from coming in contact
with the bark, unless at the upper edge;