The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-07
CONTROLLING THE
 APPLE BORER. Means by Which Orcha11ists May Rid Their Trees of This Widespread

Pest.
 tFWorTning'' and painting the trunks of the trees are recommended to owners of apple orchards as ef11- cient methods of dealing with the roundheaded apple-tree borer in a new Farmers Bulletin, No. 675, of the U. s. Department o Agriculture. A heavy application of some paint that will not injure the trees but will re- main in an unbroken coat on the bark or two or three months. is ef- fectiVe in preventing the female from laying her eggs in the tree, and greatly reduces the amount o worm ing, or the rem oval of the insects with a knife and wire, that must be done.
 The roundheaded app1e-tree borer, the most destructive of number of similar pests, lays its eggs in or un- der the bark of apple trees. After matching the larvae feed upon the in- ner bark and wood to such an extent that the tree is seriously weakened or killed. The pest is found over the whole of the eastern portion of the United States and as far west Ne braska, Kansas and New Mexico. In addition to fruit trees, it feeds on ser vice, wild crab and mountain ash trees, which makes it advisable for orchardists to remove these varieties TOT a distance or at least a hundred yards from their orchard.
 The female lays her eggs, one at a time, In an incisfon she has made in the bark, usually just above the surface of the ground. About 1 5 or 20 days later the eggs hatch and the larvae appear. When full grown these are nearly inch and half in length. They first attack the inner bark, eating out broad. more or less circular galleries and thrusting out through small holes in the bark cast ings which form little heaps of red dish wood fragments around the base of the tree. During the winter the borers are quiescent but early in the following spring they attack the solid wood, while some of them work their wayHup the trunk. These last. spend one more winter in the tree and then, having passed through the pup-stage, dig their way out and emerge as adult beetles Three years are required for the insect to complete its development from egg to adult.
 Ordinarily the beetle lives about fourths of an inch in length, light brown in color above. with two broad white bands, Joined in front, extend ing the full length of the back; the underparts and front of the head are white. The females rarely fly
 
 the immediate vicinity of an orchard can be kept free from them, there is little danger of a serious infesta- ton.
 The most common method of rid- ding an orchard of these pests is to cut away the bark sufficiently to trace the burrows made by the borer.N A hooked wire is then inserted into the burrow and the insect pulled out. If made with care. the wound in the tree caused by this process will heal readily. The castings at the base of the tree serve as an indication of-the presence of the borers. Where the burrows are curved or obstructed in some way so that the wire can not be carbon bisulphidi should be inserted and the hole then plugged with moist earth. The gas from the carbon bi- suIpfid will penetrate all parts of the burrow and kill the borer.
 In addition to worming. as this process is called. paint is often used to prevent the beetles laying their eggs Pure white lead and raw lin seed oil, mixed rather thick. will not inJure the trees, and when applied to young, smooth bark, will form a protective coat during the egg-laying season. It is probable that this is a more effective method than wrap ping Ln0se trees W1CL QSPOAs cotton batting, cloth or other mater iaIs sometimes used for this purpose. Before painting, however. the earth should be removed from the base of the tree for a, depth of from to inches The surface of the trunk thus exposed should be first scraped and painted and the earth then re- placed This is necessary, for the beetle occasionally lays her eggs un der instead of over the ground.
 President Wilson at Cornish, N. H.. on a vacation. exchanged code mess ages with Secretary Lansing on the