334 STATE UORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the vine hoppers desert the vines and retire for shelter during the coming winter 

 beneath fallen leaves and among the decayed tufts and roots of grass, where 

 they remain till the following spring, Avhen they emerge from their winter 

 quarters, and in due time deposit their eggs upon the leaves of the vine and 

 then jierish. 



Prof. Comstock in commenting upon this description in the New York Tri- 

 bune says: 



Since Harris wrote this admirable account comparatively little has been added 

 to our knowledge of these insects. The only practicable remedy which has 

 been proposed is to collect the dead leaves late in the autumn after the insects 

 have become dormant and burn them, thus destroying the insects which are 

 hibernating among them. I have the testimony of a prominent vine-grower 

 of California that he has practiced this with success. Although the autumn is 

 the best time, those vine growers who wish to try this remedy can still do so 

 during the coming spring. Care must be taken to act promptly as soon as the 

 snow is off and before the leaf-hoppers have left their winter quarters. Pyre- 

 thrum dusted over the vines at the rate of one pound to the acre is said to have 

 given excellent results. But the supply of this valuable insecticide is as yet 

 limited. As these insects are attracted to light, trap lanterns and torches have 

 been suggested as a means of destroying them. But I have but little confidence 

 in their being used thoroughly enough to accomplish the desired end. 



PEACH BORERS. 



Among the many remedies given for the destruction and prevention of the 

 ravages of the peach grub, we find that of Sylvester Johnson, President of the 

 Indiana State Horticultural Society, Avho says : " I keep my trees in healthy 

 condition l)y destroying and preventing the grub. This is easily done by remov- 

 ing a small portion of the earth from the body near the roots and filling its 

 place with a pint to a quart of soft soap, from the middle to the last of May. 

 If the grub has previously found his way into the tree, the soap will kill him ; 

 if he is not there, he will not get in after the soap is placed there. This method 

 has never failed with me." 



THE GREEN CORN WORM. 



Dr. Byron D. Halsted, in the American G-ardener discourses upon the corn 

 worm that has recently made its appearance in Michigan, and about which we 

 have received very many inquiries: 



It is the same insect that has done so much damage to the cotton crop in 

 the Southern States, where it is known as the boll worm. The caterpillar is 

 generally of a pale green color, marked with black longitudinal lines, with 

 several scattered dark spots from which hairs arise. When full grown the 

 "worm" is about an inch and a half in length. It does not seem to be at all 

 particular as to its diet, eating with voracity tomatoes and even young pump- 

 kins, but it does its most destructive work in the cotton and corn fields. 



The female moth deposits her eggs upon the corn silk and the young cater- 

 pillars soon work their way down under the husks to the tender, sweet kernels 



