[NAFEX] A righteous borer tool
Richard J. Ossolinski
osso at acadia.net
Mon Nov 21 23:36:39 EST 2005
Oops! Apologies to the group, as this was intended as personal to M.P.
Richard
On Nov 21, 2005, at 11:31 PM, Richard J. Ossolinski wrote:
> Dear Ahab,
> Call me Ishmael, but I found this bit boring. Also, have received and
> thank you for sending a copy of the revised edition: stellar work!
> Here's wishing you multiple printings and all due success.
> Ozzie
>
> On Nov 21, 2005, at 7:33 PM, Michael Phillips wrote:
>
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>>
>>
>> Twenty years of suffering have gone into this discovery, as I’ve done
>> the incessant search for damage -- and thus the grub culprits --
>> caused by the round-headed appletree borer. In the process, I’ve
>> probably lost four or so good pocketknives (misplaced in the grass)
>> and at least a few dozen trees. All the biology and “trunk clues” are
>> explained in my book, including the new revised edition, but what’s
>> new here is that I’ve finally discovered the right tool to go borer
>> hunting. The key is to delve throughout all damaged cambium and end
>> up with a skewered grub at the end of the search. It turns out that a
>> 3/8” borer bit (I’m not making up this name! though it’s also known
>> as a spade bit) is a righteous device for poking up the dreaded
>> borer! Smaller diameter drill bits of this type do not have the spear
>> point. This bit is plenty sturdy to open up damaged areas, poke
>> gently into suspected crevices, and absolutely great at delivering
>> the hiding grub from its lowest hiding tunnel. The goal is to get
>> these bastards in the fall of year one, and certainly by the
>> subsequent spring. The old idea of using a wire to follow a deep,
>> winding tunnel is fine, but geez, really: Why not get them soon after
>> egg hatch with a full thrust jab to the gut? The spade bit is not
>> unlike a harpoon in this regard.
>>
>>
>>
>> And if anyone thinks this advice is being offered up by a nut, well
>> then, you really don’t understand how incredibly devastating the
>> borer can be, do you?
>>
>>
>>
>> I’ll just sign off appropriately . . .
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Captain Ahab
>>
>>
>>
>> Michael Phillips
>> Lost Nation Orchard
>> 859 Lost Nation Road
>> Groveton, NH 03582
>> 603-636-2286
>> www.HerbsAndApples.com
>>
>> Book News: A full-color edition of "Apple Grower", revised and
>> expanded, filled with all the latest cutting-edge information on
>> organic orcharding, is Hot Off the Press! More than 70 new pages
>> have been added, including many informative charts. Check it all out
>> on our web site, and get in your holiday orders today.
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