Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-29
Protection against B0rers.

At the present time, Orcharding Is re-
ceiving a good deal OF attention, not only
by farmers, but by professional men
from our cities who buy farms and plant
orchards. Now in order to be success
full in this branch of farming, hrst one
must have good trees planted on proper
land, then there Is constant night
against insects, the browntail and gypsy
moth, the tent caterpillar and fall web
worm, and one of the worst and least
understood enemies is the apple tree
borer, which may and often does ruin
many young trees before the owner 10
aware of its presence. The orchardist
should watch young trees from the time
they are set out uutil they are two or
three inches in diameter, after which
there is little danger of their being
killed or seriously injured by borers; in
spect twice every summer and dig out
any borers or eggs which have been de-
posted by the borer beetle. The eggs
are laid at the base of the tree or quite
near the ground, from the middle OF
May until September, and, II not dug out
and killed, they stay in the tree two or
three years, eating slowly at first just
under the bark, and then faster the Sec
ond year, working into the wood some
what and digging channel upward
some two or three inches, and, when
nearly ready to change to the beetle form,
they cut round hole in the bark at the
upper end of this channel, large enough
to crawl out Of, then retire to the
channel to change from q small, white
grub worm to q beetle about 1-2 inch In
length, with brown and white striped
shell, when in the spring or carly sum-
mer they emerge and fly by night, hiding
during the day, and within short time
deposit the eggs as described, after
which, having accomplished their life
work, they very soon die and leave the
work of destruction to be carried on by
the young, that hatch very soon from
the eggs they have deposited In the bark
of the young trees.
These beetles are very shy and are
rarely found after they emerge from the
tree. About the only way to find them
is to break down young tree that Is
eaten up With borers and find the beetles
before they emerge in the spring.
The surest way to guard agsnst them
is to watch the young trees and dig the
borers when small. They can even be
discoyeret before they hatch, by motto.
ing a small crack in the bark or very
small, brown spot. Then is the time to
get them easiest by slicing OF small
piece OF bark and notice the little brown
egg just under the bark; but II not taken
out until the second year, when they
have made channel up into the wood, a
| fine wire like broom wire to insert In the
hole may reach them easier than the
knife.
But eternal vigilance is the price oi
success in orcharding. Clean culture
may help to keep the borers out, as they
like grass and weeds to hide behind
while laying the eggs. Some use prep.
aration on the trunks Of the trees In
early summer to keep the beetle from
laying the eggs.
II the trees reach the bearing age,
there are still several kinds Of blight,
rust, rot, etc., to fight in order to secure
perfect fruit, and with the large number
Of trees being set and competition &C
close, one must grow perfect fruit and
pack it better than the other fellow IL
order to sell at . profit, which means
| good culture, proper feeding and spray
| ing of trees, and proper methods Of mar
keting, or failure Of the undertaking.
<. r. NJ. In Maine Farmer.