DESTRUCTION OF CANKER-WORMS. 123 



although the committee thought the trees were damaged about 

 as much as the average of trees protected by other methods. 

 Perhaps Ordway's Protector is as effectual a preventive as 

 anything which does not cause the death of the grub before 

 laying her eggs. Mr. Sawyer states that by tarring the trees 

 above the protectors, he became satisfied that the grubs could 

 could not pass over it, but he also states that he caught grubs 

 and young worms ascending the tree at the same time. He 

 also found large numbers of young worms hatched upon the 

 stone walls by the side of the trees, from which it is fair to 

 presume that they would travel to the tree. 



If it is a fact that the grubs lay their eggs upon the stone 

 walls and stubble and continue to run until after the young 

 worms begin to hatch, it seems to be clearly demonstrated 

 that no protector can effectually save the tree unless it causes 

 the death of the gi'ub or prevents the ascent of the newly- 

 hatched worms. The expense, and the fact that a new cloth 

 for both tree and protector must be annually supplied, consti- 

 tute the principal additional objections to a general use of 

 Ordway's Protector. 



There was also brought to the notice of the committee, by 

 IMi*. John Bradstreet, of Weuham, a zinc protector, consisting 

 of a trough surrounding the tree and designed to be filled with 

 kerosene oil. This costs twelve cents per inch (in diameter) , 

 and was patented in 1865. We were unable to pronounce 

 upon the effectiveness of this protector ; the only objection 

 raised was that of expense. Another contrivance brought to 

 the notice of the committee has been patented, we understand, 

 by Mr. Mears, of Essex. This consists of a trough or gutter 

 of coarse cloth or bagging. A hoop is sewn into a cloth, the 

 upper end of which is tied tightly around the tree, and by 

 raising the hoop a gutter is formed which is to be filled 

 with tar. 



The tar weeps slowly through the cloth, constantl}^ present- 

 ing a surface of fresh tar underneath over which the grub can- 

 not pass. And if the grub is able to pass over the underside 

 she still has to cross the tar in the trough. We did not hear 

 that this remedy had been tried suflSciently to test its value, 

 but if not too expensive it may prove a useful preventive 

 against the ravages of the canker-worm. 



