21 



brown. Each segment or ring is provided with a transverse row of tubercles from which 

 arise clusters of long spreading hairs, one pair of tubercles on the sides of the second segment 

 much larger than any of the others and with a larger cluster of hairs ; in each cluster there is 

 one or more hairs, very long, longer in some instances than the entire body of the larva, there 

 is a dark brown broken stripe along each side. Hairs mixed, Ijrown and whitish. Changes 

 take place in its appearance at each successive moult until finally it presents the appearance 

 given in fig. 14, and is in adornment one of the most beautiful caterpillars we know 

 of with its Vermillion red head and collar, the graceful pencils of long black hairs at each 

 extremity, and the cream coloured brushes or tufts along its back. 



Nine different parasites have been found infesting this larvie. These friendly helpers 

 must do much towards keceping this destructive creature within reasonable limits. Of 34 

 cocoons lately taken at random from different trees, only ten were found with eggs attached 

 and quite a large proportion of the remainder were infested with parasites. Hence when 

 collecting these cocoons in winter •uone should be taken or destroyed, but those which 

 have egg masses on them, as all the others will contain either useful parasites or else the empty, 

 harmless male chrysalis. As the female never travels beyond her cocoon, it is clear that this 

 insect can only spread by the wanderings of the caterpillar or the careless introduction of eggs 

 on young trees, no doubt the latter has been the most prolific source of evil. 



THE APPLE-TREE BLIGHT. 



This strange disease, affecting the tips of the branches of apple and quince trees, has 

 been very common during the past summer, and has extended over a large portion of the 

 western part of Ontario. The first specimens we received this year were from Mr. James 

 Dougall, of VViud.sor. He writes, on the 27th of June, as follows — " I send you to day, by 

 express, some twigs and shoots of apple and quince trees, affected by what I presume is the 

 twig borer. I have never been able to discover any insects or larva- in the shoots, but possibly 

 I may have been late in looking for them. The year before last this pest was very bad down 

 the lake shore, about Ruthven, the orchards were browned with it. Last year it attacked my 

 larger apple trees badly, and in the nursery rowssome Alexander trees, which were five years 

 old, suffered, while the younger ones were not touched ; this year it is worse than last. My 

 quinces have been badly injured for the past three years." 



On the same d;iy we received another package from C. F. Treffry, of Hawtry, Ontario, 

 with the following note — " I herewith enclo.se for your inspection some small branches from 

 gome of my apple trees. In passing through my orchard I was surprised to find three of my 

 finest young trees affected as enclosed. 1 have watdied closely for the insect which must 

 have caused such damage, but without success ; neither can I find anything in the Society's 

 Keport for 1873 which will give me any information respecting it." 



This same disease affected the trees very much on the grounds of Mr. Charles Arnold, 

 of J'aris, and many or hards in that section of country were similarly injured. In our own 

 location we observed it in one instance only, affecting a few fruit-bearing twigs on a (|uince 

 tree. Ab"Ut Hamilton, and between that city and Dundas. we saw, in July, n)any trees 

 which had been badly injured, and, on returning from New York, a few weeks later saw evi- 

 dences of the same trouble in some of the apple orchards in the western portion of that state. 

 Thus it will be seen that this disease has affected many trees in widely distant portions of 

 our couutiy, and probably has extended much further thin we arc at present aware of. We 

 shall be glad to hear from our fruit-growing friends in reference to this matter. 



TheadvcBt of this disease is shown by a sudden withering of the twigs and extremities 

 of the branches, particularly the fruit bearing portions, and embracing the whole of the new 

 growth. Soon the leaves appear as if .'^corelied. and the wood of the affected portions becomes 

 black. Here the trouble seems to end. and later in the sea-son the tree partially recovers its 

 vigour and throws out new shoots from below the base of the affected portion. The fact of 

 the fruit branches being principally involved tells heavily on the crop for the year, and makes 

 this disca.se a much more serious matter than it would otherwise be. The effects produced 

 are so similar in appearance to the damage done, in some instances by the twig bnrers that we 

 do not wonder at the provailin'j; opinio'i that the injury is in some way caused by insects. 

 The most careful examination, however, fails to reveal the .slightest evidence of insect work, 

 and, like the mysterious pear tree blight, its origin aud progress are at present involved in 



