120 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



DESTKUCTIOX OF CA^KEK-WOEMS. 



ESSEX. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



The society offers two classes of premiums, — odc "for the 

 best-conductecl experiment in preventing the ravages of the 

 canker-worm," and one for " a new, cheap and effectual rem- 

 edy against the ravages of the canker-worm." 



For the first-named premium there were two entries, — one 

 by Mr. Thomas Sawyer, of Boxford, and one by Mr. Charles 

 K. Lake, of Topsfield. The committee visited the orchards 

 of both competitors in the first part of July, when the extent 

 to wiiich the orchards had been eaten could be easily seen. 

 Mr. Lake entered two orchards which had been mainly pro- 

 tected by Ordway's Protector, of which further mention will 

 be made. Although no statement has been submitted by Mr. 

 Lake, and although he was suddenly called from home just 

 before the committee visited his orchards, so that they were 

 unfortunately deprived of his valuable personal exj)lanations, 

 yet the committee by inquiry of others were able to arrive at 

 what seemed to them a satisfactory conclusion. 



The protector chiefly used by Mr. Sawyer is simply a trough 

 or gutter laid upon the ground around the tree and filled with 

 coal-tar from the gas-works. His statement, which is here- 

 with submitted, gives a very clear account of the course of 

 experiment which has led him to adopt this remedy. Many 

 of his trees were almost entirely free from signs of the canker- 

 worm, certainly perfectly protected from practical injury to 

 the fruit. Your committee recommend that he be awarded 

 the first premium of twenty-five dollars. 



There were two entries for the hundred-dollar premium, — 

 one by Mr. Sawyer and one by Mr. Thomas K. Leach, of 

 Topsfield. Your committee regarded both entries as substan- 

 tially for the same thing. Mr. Sawyer uses a trough or gutter 



