The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1898-11-24
Controlling Round Headed Borer..

L
A government bulletin has the fol-
lowing to say on the control Of the
round-headed apple tree borer:
After borers have once entered a tree
there is no better remedy known than
| to cut them cut with knife or other
sharp instrument. In the treatment Of
this insect an ounce Of prevention IS
| worth several pounds Of cure. Cutting
| the borers out, unless practiced with
| the greatest care, is apt to result In
| injury, and it is far better to prevent
the parent insects from depositing
their eggs upon the tree. This is not
difficult OF accomplishment, as oviposi-
ton is practically confined to two
months in a single locality. usually
during June and July. The best pre-
| ventives are impenetrable substances
| placed about the trunk and various
| washes of repellent nature.
Cutting out by hand.-Little has been
gained in the line of direct remedies
| for this bcrer until very recent years.
| The early writer's had nothing better to
| advise than cutting out the larva,
| either with knife or gouge, or killing
| them by the insertion of wire into
their burrows. These remedies were
| in use early in the present century and
are still the ones most often practiced.
| It is no uncommon thing to find four
or more larvae in a single small trunk
| and the cutting out Of all Of them, II
| not practiced with the greatest eau
ton, is apt to result in the girdling OK
the tree, if, indeed, this has not already
| been accomplished by the combined at
| tack of the borers themselves. It
! would seem superfuCus to add that it
| is best to cut the borers out as soon as
| detected. Their presence may be
known by a little experiment, some
| persons, the writer is informed, being
| so expert in detecting their exact loca-
| ton as to be able to kill them with a
| knife thrust or by the puncture OF an
awl or other sharp instrument. The
fruit grower should institute a practice
| Of inspection that the bOrers may be
removed as often as found.
To assist the tree to recuperate
after it has been girdled bridge or
two should be made by splitting piece
Of apple twig (say, Of an inch or two
| in thickness), cutting it diagonally on
the inside, and applying to the surface
at the base Of the tree. It should then
be tied on and grating wax applied to
each end, after which fertilizer, pre-
ferably fresh COW manure, should be
applied and the whole banked over
with earth. It is also we'll to keep the
tree watered for a few weeks after
treatment whenever this is practicable
without too great inconvenience.
Mechanical preventives.-This is one
OF the borers that can readily be con-
trolled by different sorts Of mechanical
barriers placed about the base OF the
tree. For this a few thicknesses OF
newspaper wrapped rather loosely
about the trunk and extending about
two feet from the base are all that is
necessary. This covering should be
tied, by preference with cord, which
will readily yield or break with the
natural expansion Of the tree in its
growth. and also be tightly fastened at
top and bottom and hilled up with
earth so that the beetles can not obtain
access to the tree from below. From
the top of this covering upward 1t IS
best to use some deterrent alkaline or
carbolated wash. Instead of newspa-
pers, wire gauze or mosquito netting
may be used. and should be put in
place, so as to loosely encircle the
tree, that the beetles may be unable to
successfully deposit their eggs between
| its meshes and that the growth OF the
tree may not be hindered. Both have
been successfully employed for a long
period of years, and there is abundant
testimony to their value. II the net
ting or paper be put In place early In
May, it will not only prevent the
beetles from ovipositing during the
next two months but will also keep
the insects which might be present In
the trunk from issuing and they Will
die in their burrows without being able
to Law fertilized eggs. The paper wrap
ming must be removed each season, but
the wire netting will last for several
years. 1t is safe to remove either, Or
diparily, after the first of September.
| -
Protective washes.-Any one OF sew
eral washes in general use against bcr-
ing insects may be used as deterrenta
A good alkaline wash is prepared OF
soft soap reduced to the consistency OF
thick paint By the addition Of caustic
potash or washing soda in solution. A
GOOD fish-oil, or whaleoil. soap or
common soft soap are often used. and
in some cases any one Of these is sum-
Gent to deter the insects from deposit
Ing their eggs. The alkaline wash
may be carbolated., II desired. BY the
addition Of crude carbolic acid. at the
rate q one pint to every ten gallons Of
the wash. Such . wash. 1t Should b
beg1e IN mind. nc. only ai1or&e erotes-