I can almost taste the yellows in much of the fruit
bought in market. Some regard the disease as very contagious;
others do not. It is best to be on the safe side. If a tree is
affected generally, dig it out by the roots and burn it at once;
if only a branch shows evidence of the malady, cut it off well
back, and commit it to the flames. The only remedy is to propagate
from trees in sound health and vigor.
Like the apple, the peach-tree is everywhere subject to injury
from a borer, named "exitiosa, or the destructive." The eggs from
which these little pests are hatched are laid by the moth during
the summer upon the stem of the tree very near the root; the grubs
bore through the outer bark, and devour the inner bark and sap-
wood. Fortunately they soon reveal their evil work by the
castings, and by the gum which exudes from the hole by which they
entered. They can not do much harm, unless a tree is neglected; in
this case, however, they will soon enfeeble, and probably destroy
it. When once within a tree, borers must be cut out with a sharp-
pointed knife, carefully yet thoroughly. The wounds from the knife
may be severe, but the ceaseless gnawing of the grub is fatal. If
the tree has been lacerated to some extent, a plaster of moistened
clay or cow-manure makes a good salve.
Pages:
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108