PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS* CLUB. 115 



within a few days of a regular time ; so that he knew when to 

 expect them. By killing them as fast as they appear, the garden 

 or vineyard can be preserved from destruction ; for with that 

 course they do not increase in numbers. If let alone, they would 

 soon destro}^ everything. 



The Chairman said that the proper way to get rid of the apple- 

 moth, is to pick the fruit as it falls and feed it to the hogs ; but 

 as it is a winged insect, it cannot be exterminated in any locality 

 without combined action by the farmers of the neighborhood. 



Mr. Carpenter described an insect which has attacked the melon 

 crop within a short time, and which also attacks squashes, pump- 

 kins and everything of that nature. It bores the stalk near the 

 root, destroying the life of the plant, and is a white grub, half to 

 three-fourths of an inch in length. 



The Chairman stated that it had been computed that the undis- 

 turbed progeny of a single herring would in twenty years monopo- 

 lize the whole earth. Yet we are in no danger of being swallowed 

 up by the herrings. The fact is that there is no fish, beast, or 

 insect, that would not multiply to swallow up everything, if 

 there were nothing to regulate their increase. The destruction 

 of the-span worms of this city by the ichneumon flies, is an illus- 

 tration of one mode of regulating this enormous increase, — 

 We need not get nervous about the insects ; it is not intended 

 that they shall destroy everything. They are just as much a por- 

 tion of creation to make the world suitable for us, a superior order 

 of beings, as any other of the branches of created beings. 



Prof. Nash suggested that perhaps, as we succeed so poorly in 

 our attempts at regulation, they might be as well regulated with- 

 out our help as with. We used to kill birds, for instance; but 

 found out at last that they were beneficial to the farmer. 



The Chairman said that if we could find a remedy for the cur- 

 culio, which is safe against the ichneumon fly, it would be a bless- 

 ing. He considered it necessary to bestow a great deal of atten- 

 tion upon its destruction. His remarks were intended especially 

 to apply to the caterpillars, and butterflies. 



JYew subject. — The subject selected for the next meeting, was, 

 " The Flowers and Fruits of the Season," to be illustrated by an 

 exhibition. 

 Adjourned. 



