FRUIT-GROWING. 65 



Another formidable enemy in the field, and one which 

 makes it unsafe to calculate the profits of next year's crop 

 by the number of plants set this year, is the cutworm. I 

 will not describe him. Let the fortunate few who have 

 never been forced to make his acquaintance remain in bliss- 

 ful ignorance. He does his work thoroughly. Commencing 

 operations about the 10th of July, he continues till prevented 

 by frost. His mission appears to be to cut the plant about 

 one inch below the surface, separating the root from the top. 

 Having destroyed one plant, he works a subterranean passage 

 to the next nearest, and then repeats the operation. Although 

 there is a great deal of monotony in his life, he never seems 

 to tire. He is, however, entitled to the credit of one virtue, 

 — he never eats the new root of the tender runner so long as 

 he can get the more substantial food of the main plant. 



Cultivators have been assiduous in their endeavors to de- 

 vise some means of preventing the ravages of this destructive 

 insect. It was thought, that, by ploughing the ground late 

 in the fall, and exposing him to severe frost, it would certainly 

 insure his destruction. Others have coated their land with 

 salt, and ploughed it in, thinking, perhaps, to so season his 

 food, that he would die of starvation. These efforts have 

 failed. The practice more generally pursued is to go over 

 the field daily, and, where the wilted leaf indicates his pres- 

 ence, dig liim out, and Idll him. 



This practice, though suggestive of locking the door after 

 the horse is stolen, surely prevents further depredations. 

 The theory that he travels from one plant to another by an 

 underground passage is by no means universally admitted, 

 and is often met by the question. How does he know which 

 way to go ? and might he not travel a week without finding 

 a plant ? I would here say that unerring instinct is the 

 surest guide. 



To test the truth of this theory, I took from the ground a 

 grub that had just completed the destruction of a plant, and 

 tied a piece of red thread around his body, and replaced him 

 where he was found, and covered him with earth. In thirty- 

 six hours after, the nearest neighboring plant, which stood 

 sixteen inches distant, was struck with death ; and on exami- 

 nation I found the same grub at work, exhibiting clearly the 

 mark of his identity. In spite of all the untiring efforts 



