110 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Saturday. On close insjx^ction iu the part of the orchard where the worms first 

 made their apj>earance. new buds are putting out, and hist year, after the worms 

 left, the trees did put out new leaves, but the apples ceased to grow, and either 

 dropi^ed from the trees to the ground or shriveled on the limbs. The appear- 

 ance of the orchard near sundown, where the worms have full possession, is of 

 an immense web, each worm hanging by his silken thread, of various lengths, 

 swaying in the breeze, by countless millions. 



Last year only about half the orcliard suffered from their depredations, and 

 I notice where tiiey strip^x^d all the leaves off last year tlie tree shows less vitality 

 this year. But now they are not confined entirely to the Bailey orchard, but 

 have attacked several that are near by in the neighborhood, not to any alarni- 

 iug extent for to-day, **but what of the future?"' The first noticeable dam- 

 age of any extent to attract public attention was last summer, though some few 

 trees have been denuded of their leaves for two or three summers before, but 

 the owner thought nothing of it. Last year, however, about half the orchard 

 was blasted, and now nearly all, and reaching outside to new fields, and the 

 owner or the authorities doiug nothing. "Where will it end? What can be 

 done?'' I apprehend that, unless some effective measures be devised, and 

 active and energetic general treatment be prosecuted, not only the Bailey 

 orchard, or the orchards of Lenawee county, but the orchards of the State of 

 Michigan and those adjoining will be lost to the productive interests of the 

 country. I am not competent to give any legitimate reason why this particular 

 orchard should be so severely attacked and so completely eaten up, as it were, 

 by this particular enemy, but I will offer a few suggestions for your considera- 

 tion : The first few years, when the trees were small, root crops, generally pota- 

 toes, were planted, the trees grew quite thrifty, and for the past six or seven 

 years it has been one dense thicket of trees, with the lower limbs close to the 

 ground. I have never known any fertilizers applied : apparently the growtli 

 was sufficient without it ; but nevertheless, with this great draft from the soil, 

 which is quite sandy and naturally poor, and the sun's beneficial rays shut out 

 from the soil, would it not cause an inherent weakness, open to the attack of 

 the first enemy whicli presented itself, and the past three or four years the 

 orchard has shown loss of the vigor and thriftiness which was ap}>areut in its 

 earlier developing. Were the orchard mine, I would cut and grub out every 

 tree, thoroughly cultivate and fertilize the soil, and then call upon the scientists 

 of the State Pomological Society for the best remedy to exterminate the pests. 

 I would then fight them with those remedies with my whole strength, and if I 

 was inadequate I would call on pomological, horticultural, farmers' clubs, and 

 other kindred societies, and if all failed, would submit it to the supervisors of 

 the countv for help. 



WOODLAND OWEN. 



Adrian, June 29th. 



Mr. Garfield. — The people about Adrian are getting to be quite alarmed over 

 the visitation of the canker worm, and are desirous that our society give them 

 advice as to the best methods of extermination. 



Mr. Thompson. — It is about time the Lenawee people were awake to this 

 nuisance ; they have lield their hands too long already. The methods of destroy- 

 ing them are well known. Iu the proceedings of this society for 1870 (soon to 

 be publislied), is an exhaustive article on the subject by Prof. Cook. The use of 

 tar about the bodies of the trees, which is kept fresh, will effectually prevent 



