336 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



trouble, they come in such numbers. One of my neighbors last season wag 

 asked last season if the cut worms were working in his peach orchard? He 

 replied, "No; have seen no signs." But, upon examination, he found that 

 much damage had been done, all within a day or two, in the way of eating out 

 the buds. Upon searching, he found under many single trees, over one hun- 

 dred of the various little pests concealed just beneath the surfaco of the soil, 

 from near the tree to three feet away. Some recommend fall plowing, sowing 

 salt and lime, or ashes, all of which seems beneficial in some instances ; in 

 others a total failure. 



Prof. Cook says he has submitted them to a temperature of thirty degrees 

 below zero, and by bringing them into a warm atmosphere, would soon find 

 them alive and active. I always plow my peach orchards late in the fall, and 

 many years have plenty of cut worms in them. Have put them in a dish of salt, 

 and found them twenty-four hours after snugly burrowed in it, and all in seem- 

 ingly good health. Could not say what the result would have been if mois- 

 ture had been added to the salt. 



Some recommend paper smeared with coal-tar wrapped around the body of 

 the tree. I tried that and caught many worms that tried to pass over the tarred 

 surface, but found they had put their foot in it, and had to stay there ; but 

 within a few hours the tar dried, and they passed over it without difficulty. 

 I have discovered in fields where I had the previous year raised buckwheat, 

 that there seemed 'to be no cut worms, but have not tried it so thoroughly as I 

 intend to. Mr. Phillips, of Grand Haven, president of the W. M. F. society, 

 states positively that it is a remedy against damage by cut worms, if sown in 

 the orchard or vineyard, and plowed under while in full bloom. Said he had 

 heard that some property of the blossom was a deadly poison to insect life. 

 Mr. Lagorde, a prominent English agriculturist, says much experience has 

 convinced him that by plowing under buckwheat when in full bloom, as a 

 green manure, effectually frees the soil from all subterranean parasites, such aa 

 cut worms, white grubs, ants, etc.; that it abstracts but little nitrogen from the 

 soil; that it takes its principal nutriments from the air; that, owing to the 

 spongy nature of the leaves, it decomposes very quickly, and that by such sud- 

 den decomposition, the large amount of gas liberated as asphixiates the larvae 

 of the various insects in the ground. My plan has been to sow buckwheat 

 about the first of August, in orchards not bearing, so it would not ripen fully 

 before being killed by frosts — not to save for a crop — and whether plowed 

 under in the late fall or early spring, it formed a mulch, and if not plowed till 

 spring holds the snow; in either case, the few ripened seeds grow early enough 

 for an early green manure for the soil. Have sowed in bearing orchards, pur- 

 posing it to take the surplus moisture in warm or wet seasons, or to be dragged 

 down for mulch if the season turned dry and more moisture was needed to 

 mature a heavy crop of fruit. Intend sowing in all fields of fruit trees, bushes, 

 or vines early in the spring (as an experiment), to guard against damage by 

 cut worms. 



Several years ago the N. E. Farmer gave the experience of some cultivator 

 there who used forest leaves, green clover, or other forage in his garden, 

 when by using poison he destroyed many cut worms; also, by using bun- 

 dles of the leaves or grass without the poison, many would collect to feed, and 

 remain under the same, so they could be easily collected and destroyed. I do 

 not expect to teach the members of this society in this matter, but if I may 

 aid in bringing out the experience of many others, some light may be gained 

 whereby we can destroy or " regulate " this troublesome pest. 



