Social and Festival. 37 



the depredations of cut -worms in his strawberry bed. Last year 

 these worms destroyed many of his plants, eating off the leaves 

 soon after they started out in spring. He sprinkled the beds with 

 Paris green, using one part to fifty or sixty of plaster. Had tried 

 the same remedy this season just before the blossoms appeared, 

 and had not been troubled with worms. He regarded the hens 

 and birds as great helpers in the destruction of our insect enemies. 



Mr. Stickney thought that the benefit derived from hens and 

 birds, was largely due to their destroying the insects in their chrys- 

 alis state, and thus preventing a large increase in numbers. Mr. 

 Smith's hens were confined to the yard containing the currant 

 bushes, and when insects matured and entered the ground they 

 hunted out and destroyed them. 



In reply to an inquiry in relation to the benefit derived at the 

 east from the English sparrow, it was stated that at first they ren- 

 dered great assistance in destroying the canker worm in eastern 

 cities, but they soon acquired a taste for other food, which they 

 found in abundance, and that but little benefit was derived from 

 them now in the destruction of injurious insects. They had be- 

 come regular scavengers in the cities, and when crowded by num- 

 bers out into the country had proved destructive to crops. It was 

 the general impression at the east that " their room would be much 

 preferable to their company," as by their quarrelsome disposition 

 they had driven off the song birds, whose company was more pleas- 

 ing, and whose aid in destroying insect foes was equal to, if not 

 greater, than that of the sparrows. 



It was also remarked that much was being accomplished by the 

 destruction of the nocturnal moths, most, if not all of whom are our 

 enemies, by putting out lights at night. A lantern placed on a 

 block in a pan or tub of water, will draw to it many may-beetles, 

 moths of the leaf worm and caterpillars. No pains should be 

 spared in destroying them in this manner. 



Society adjourned. 



SOCIAL AND FESTIVAL. 



In the evening there was a very pleasant and social gathering at 

 the parlors of the Presbyterian church, in connection with an exhi- 

 bition of fruits, flowers and vegetables. The cheerful greetings 

 and kind attentions of the citizens of Baraboo made the occasion 



