356 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



South Haven, April 15, 1873. 



There was a large attendance this evening. There was quite a lively chat 

 before the call to order, over the articles on the table, consisting of twigs 

 injured by various insects, specimens of fresh fruit and evaporated fruit. 



Judge Monroe had sent in several apples to be named. 



Mr. H. E. Bidwell showed samples of evaporated fruits, oranges, lemons, 

 tomatoes, and horse radish, beautifully dried by the Williams' process. 



The subject for consideration was " insects." This subject having been 

 talked over by the tSociety several times, most of those present wore disposed 

 to seek rather than give information. 



Mr. A. J. Pierce stated that last year he had put blacksmith cinders close 

 about the bodies of his peach trees, to keep out the borers. Ee had not exam- 

 ined them, but thought they would be quite effectual. 



Mr. Foster said he put such cinders, with hard coal ashes, about some peach 

 trees. He dug out the borers beforehand. He examined the trees for three 

 years, while he owned them, and found none except such as got in before the 

 cinders and ashes were applied, while in trees not so treated he found many 

 borers. Some of his neighbors tried the same experiment, with similar 

 success. 



Mr. Irving Pierce said he had been troubled much by a reddish colored cat- 

 erpillar, having bristles, which hatches from the leaves of his trees, and 

 devoured them. Several others had noticed the same caterpillar. 



Mr. Whitcher had noticed many cut-worms already about his peach trees. 



Mr. Bidwell said these cut-worms could be caught under chips, the same as 

 the curculio ; so also could the little bug which was the parent of the little 

 brown worm which eat into the buds of the peach and other trees. He 

 showed several of these beetles, which were a little over an eighth of an inch 

 long, glossy, light brown color, with spots of a lighter shade, and black heads. 

 He hatched these from the worm. 



There are bugs which prey upon other insects which hide under the chips. 

 These should not be killed. This is one of the evils of catching bugs la 

 bottles of sweetened water. 



Two of the parasites are the Golden Carob, a very black, roundish bug, about 

 three-eighths of an inch long, and a light colored bug, with brown dots and 

 head resembling a lady-bug, but was not so round. 



The best Avay to get rid of insects is to encourage birds, build houses for 

 them, etc. 



Those who follow up the destruction of the peach borer in their orchards 

 find that after two or three years they are not troubled with them much. The 

 game is the case with the codling moth, to some extent, and of many other 

 insects. The females do not seem to go far from Avhere they were developed 

 to lay their eggs. 



(Some one suggested that the potato bug was an exception.) 



The larva of the codling moth miller often crawl under the rough bark of 

 trees and winter. Now is the time to destroy them. 



Question — What mischief does the snap-bug do ? 



Answer — Eat holes in the fruit. 



Question — When is the best time to apply soap or alkali to the trees to kill 

 insects ? 



Answer — Now, as there are many lice and other insects dormant in the bark. 



