160 
were selected and marked, on which there were six slugs, and these 
were well powdered over—entirely covered with dry sand; on exam- — 
ining them the next morning it was found that they had shed the 
sand-covered skin and crawled out free and slimy again. The sand 
was applied a second and third time on the same insects with sim- 
ilar results, and now being convinced that this remedy was of little 
value, they were treated to a dose of hellebore and water, which 
soon finished them. Ashes were now tried on another lot, the same 
way as the sand had been, with very similar results. It was also 
intended to try fresh air-slacked lime, which we believe would be 
effectual, but having none on hand just then, the experiment was 
postponed and the opportunity of testing it lost for the season.” 
A far more serviceable remedy is powdered hellebore, and an ex- 
periment with this by the same entomologist is equally conclusive: 
“On the 18th of August, at eight A. M., a branch of a cherry tree was 
plucked, on which there were sixty-four slugs; the branch had only 
nine leaves, so that it may be readily imagined that they were 
thickly inhabited. A dose of hellebore and water was showered on 
them about the usual strength, an ounce to the pailful, when they 
soon manifested symptoms of uneasiness, twisting and jerking about 
in a curious manner; many died during the day, and only six poor, 
sickly-looking specimens remained alive the following morning, and 
these soon after died.” 
Unquestionably, Paris green or other arsenical poisons would be 
equally effective if applied to either brood of the worms; but if the 
trees were bearing, its use would of course be inadmissable except 
for the second brood. Some have also recommended shaking the 
flies down from the trees early in the morning, or late in the even- 
ing, catching them on cloths and taking care to destroy them before 
they can escape. 
Tue WatrE-MARKED Tussock CATERPZLLAR (Orgyta leucostigma, Smith). 
This beautiful caterpillar is 
easily recognized by the four 
+ large brush-like tufts of fine 
hairs on the front part of 
the back, and the two long 
black pencils of hairs ex- 
tending backwards and for- 
TBA Z wards from each end of the 
Fig. 20-—The White-marked Tussock caterpillar body. It was reported to me 
(Orgyia leucostigma, Smith). last fall as occurring in un- 
usual numbers throughout the northern part of the State, and the 
ego-clusters upon the leaves of apple trees attracted the general at- 
tention of orchardists in the fall. It has not been especially abundant 
or destructive before since 1870, at which time it was treated in the 
report of Dr. LeBaron, then State Mintomologist. It was also further 
discussed by Dr. Thomas in the seventh report, for the year 1877; 
but as there is a present prospect of an unusual development of 
this insect, it will be profitable to call attention to it at the present 
