SECRETARY'S REPORT. 59 



tliongli the subject is no-w studied so closely that tliey will 

 probably soon be determined. The egg is supposed to be 

 deposited in the blossom. From this egg proceeds a small 

 caterpillar, which works its way through the fruit, eating the 

 pulp and causing the green fruit to turn red prematurely and 

 decay. It bears a striking resemblance to the apple-worm, 

 and seems to be very much like it in its habits. This similarity 

 has been observed by Dr. T. W. Harris, as appears by a letter 

 from which the following extract is taken : — 



" Within the past two or three years, some complaint has 

 been made of injury done to cranberries by insects. A sample 

 of the injured fruit was put into my hands by the editor of one 

 of our agricultural newspapers. The insects found therein were 

 small, naked caterpillars, strikingly like those called apple- 

 worms, or core-worms. Their habits seemed to be identical 

 with those of these common depredators. Each of the affect- 

 ed cranberries had been tenanted by a single worm, which 

 had entered, when very small, and had devoured more or 

 less of the pulp, filling its path with its blackish excre- 

 ments. Not having traced this insect to its final state, I can- 

 not positively assert that it is the same species as that which 

 affects the apple ; but if not the same, it is probably congener- 

 ical or closely allied thereto. I am not acquainted with any 

 other insect attacking the cranberry." 



Others have observed a striking resemblance of the appear- 

 ance and sensitive nature of this insect to the Palmer worm. 



Two different remedies have been adopted for this evil. 

 One is to flow the cranberry ground one whole year, thus 

 losing the crop of one season, and the other is to sow 'salt upon 

 the cranberry bed, at the rate of about five or six bushels to the 

 acre. On plantations which cannot be flowed, the latter will 

 probably be found to be the only effectual remedy. If what 

 has been observed be true, that cranberries growing on or near 

 a salt marsh are superior to any others, it is also natural to 

 suppose this application of salt would be beneficial to the cran- 

 berries, even if it did not destroy, or prevent the ravages of 

 this insect. 



Mode of Gathering. — In this country, the cranberry is 

 generally gathered with a rake made for the purpose, with 



