ANNUAL MEETING. 189 



with lighter colored legs. On bursting the pupa skin sho crawls upon the top 

 of the cocoon, is met by the male, deposits her eggs and dies. There are 

 probably two broods in a season in this State, as 1 have found tlie female 

 depositing her eggs as late as the lOtli of October. 



From the description of the nature and habits of the white marked tussock 

 moth, we see that if left to its own resources it would, like the canker-worm, 

 be distributed over the country only as fast as it could travel in the larval 

 state, which would be very slow. It feeds on almost all kinds of trees, but 

 according to Eiley seems to prefer the apple, the plum, the rose, and the 

 pear. 



Fortunately for tlie lovers of fruit and shade, this insect is beset by nine spe- 

 cies of parasites, so that nature bears the brunt of the battle for us. But becauee 

 of this, no true pomologist will think of neglecting his share in the struggle. 

 The cocoons should be gathered in the winter and destroyed, but as Prof. 

 Riley well says, " none but those which have the egg-masses on them should 

 be taken, as all of the others either contain the empty male chrysales or else 

 some friendly parasite." The method by which this insect is transported 

 from one part of the country to another is probably as eggs on young trees. 

 Therefore all such trees should be thoroughly searched before transplanting. 

 The young caterpillar when jarred falls toward the ground, suspending itself 

 by a thread. In this way they could be easily swept off by a long pole 

 and burned. Where Paris green is used for the canker-worm and codling 

 moth, these insects will be destroyed at the same time. 



A rambling discussion took place after the reading of the paper, in which 

 some points in the paper were taken up and explanations made by Mr. Weed, 

 in which he referred to a display of insects which he had brought for illustra- 

 tion. 



Mr. Allis, of Adrian, confirmed many of the observations of Mr. Weed in 

 his own recent experience. 



Several members spoke of the desirability of having a State entomologist in 

 Michigan. 



Mr. Crozier stated that Mr. Childs of Ypsilanti had recently died, and inas- 

 much as he had been a member uf this society for years, he thought it would 

 be well to record some recognition of the fact in the proceedings of this meet- 

 ing. On motion the matter was referred to the committee on resolutions, 

 with instructions to report a suitable resolution. 



Mr. Dempsey, of Trenton, Canada, gave a very pleasant account of the 

 management of the Ontario Fruit-Growers' Association. Two features are 

 worth recording here. First, a regular monthly periodical is published under 

 the auspices of the society, and second, a free distribution of new plants and 

 seeds is made annually to the membership. These plants are being grown at 

 the direct expense of the government. The government aid is quite ample to 

 place tlie association upon a good financial footing, and its membership is 

 between one and two thousand annually. 



Mr. J. C. Sterling, Secretary of the State Agricultural Society, spoke of the 

 admirable work accomplished by our State Horticultural Society since it started 

 out. He had not been identified with its progress save indirectly, but his father 

 and brother had always been greatly interested in everything undertaken by the 

 society. The most pleasant relationship existed between this society and the 

 association of which he was Secretary. They had always worked together in 

 harmony and he hoped they always would, — at least he saw no reason for 

 any estrangement. 



