230 PALMER WORM REMEDIES. 



which the worms, suspended themselves and carrying them to a 

 distance, repeating the operation day after day. But little benefit, 

 however, appeared to result from this measure. More good may 

 undoubtedly be done by attaching a long stiff handle to an old tin 

 pan, smearing the inside of the pan with tar, bird lime or some 

 similar adhesive substance, and catching the worms in this by 

 swinging it around under the tree, as they hang suspended — 

 renewing the coating as often as it becomes so covered with the 

 worms and their threads as no longer to adhere to them. 



The fact of the sudden disappearance of these worms with 

 showers of rain was noticed in several places in the year 1853, 

 and suggests the showering of trees when infested with the palmer 

 worm, with water, by means of a garden engine, as a measure 

 whereby to dislodge and destroy this enemy. At the time of 

 its disappearance in the manner stated, worms of all sizes old 

 and young were upon the leaves, showing it was not in conse- 

 quence of their having come to maturity and being ready to 

 withdraw, that they left the trees thus abruptly. The fact is 

 reported (Trans. N. Y. State Ag. Soc, vol. xiii, p. 187) that 

 a gentleman having a farm near Albany, discovering that two of 

 the trees in his orchard had their leaves destroyed by these 

 worms, procured some whale oil soap and diluting it with water, 

 drenched the remainder of his trees with it, with a garden en- 

 gine, whereby they were entirely preserved from the ravages of 

 these worms. The worms were no doubt numerous upon those 

 as they were upon all other trees at that time. Whether the 

 whale oil soap made the application more efficacious than it would 

 have been without it can only be known by further experi- 

 ments. But the suddenness with which a portion of these 

 worms drop themselves from the leaves of a tree when it is 

 shook or jarred, renders it probable that the greater agitation 

 which showering the leaves, simply, will occasion, will entirely 

 rid them of these vermin. 



