Cornell University, ) 



Ithaca, N. Y., Jan. 14, 1901. ^ 



Honorable Commissioner of Agriculture, Albany, N. Y. : 



Sir. — This bulletin, ^N'o. 187, prepared b}^ Prof. M. Y. Slinger- 

 land, embodies the results of his investigations and studies of the 

 Pahner-Worni. It appears to nie that the work has been done with 

 care and that this bulletin will be of great value to fruit-growers 

 and others. 



This insect is a striking illustration of the "ups" and "downs'* 

 of an insect's life. Some of our great-grandfathers may have suf- 

 fered from its ravages in the latter part of the eighteenth century. 

 Then its " down " period lasted until the orcharding days of our 

 fathers in the middle of the nineteenth century, and again the pest 

 remained in obscurity for nearly another half century, so that it was 

 virtually a new and unfamiliar insect to most orchardists when it 

 appeared in great numbers in New York the past season. Prof. 

 Slingei'land has found that the Palmer- Worm presents a very vul- 

 nerable point of attack, and he sees no reason why it should not 

 readily succumb to our modern methods of spraying for fruit pests. 



The diffusion of such facts as are embodied in this bulletin will 

 be highly beneficial to all who are interested in raising fruit or trees 

 of any kind for the worm is not choice about its food. If we can 

 judge the future by the past we may confidently expect tliat in 

 a few years the pest will have disappeared or at least will have 

 become so reduced in numbers that it will be of little economic 

 importance. The report is submitted for publication under Chap- 

 ter 430 of the Laws of 1899. 



Yery sincerely yours, 



I. P. EGBERTS, 



Director. 



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