CRANBERRIES — INSECT PESTS. 169 



"In New Jerse}' the larvae ai'e quite common in the month of 

 September, and may frequently be founil in October. We are dis- 

 posed to believe that many of them live through the winter in shel- 

 tered places, securely wrapped in their webs. This fact is confirmed 

 by the fact that large-sized larvge ma}' be found early in the spring ; 

 and also from our having kept a worm in a cold room until March 

 with every indication of its living until Maj'." 



He states also that — 



"The worrn made its home among the feather-leaf {Cassandra 

 colyculata) and low-bush huckleberry, until the days of cranberry 

 culture." 



The essence of bis remarks seems to be that the water, in 

 May, should be put on until near June 1, and that the vines 

 should be covered with water until just before they blossom. 



My correspondence with Dr. Brigijs, Iiimself, has been es- 

 pecially interesting, and I make a separate clause of his com- 

 munications upon the subject. His first letter, in June, 

 1883, contains advice of specimens sent me for examination, 

 and reads as follows : — 



North Rochestee, Mass., June 4, 1883. 

 W, A. Stearns, Esq. 



Dear Sir, — I send yon by mail, this morning, some cranberry 

 vines infested by tlie '" fire worm " so called. The worm, when verj^ 

 small, apparentl}' just hatched, appears first in the cranberry bud. 

 And it is thought by man}- that the miller alwaj-s deposits the egg 

 in the bud, or where the bud will appear. The worms have now 

 appeared on the edges of m}' cranberry vines not now covered with 

 water. The morning is rainy, otlierwise I would send you more of 

 the worms — will send more if necessary. In haste for the mail. 



Yours &c., 



C. Briggs. 



North Rochesteu, June 20, 1883. 

 W. A. Stearns, Esq. 



Dear Sir, — Yours rec'd. Last Monday, I sent you a small box 

 by mail containing several specimens of the " fire worm" with the 

 branches of vine on which they were found. In the bottom of the 

 box are four cluysalids which were found in webs on the vines. 

 From their form and appearance I think they are chrysalids of the 

 " fire worm." 



