. PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. oil 



some \aluable knowledge, as well as curiosities, all of which I 

 will be most happy to present to the American Institute. In 

 every mining town throughout this State, Wells, Fargo & Co. 

 have an an agency and forwarding office. Anything of small 

 bulk can be safely transmitted to you, through them, if you so 

 desire, of which please let me know on receipt of this. 



" JOHN BRUCE." 



DESTRUCTIVE WORMS. PROTECTION OF BIRDS. 



Dr. A. K, Gardner read the following paper upon the measure 

 worm : 



Among the disagreeable ciixximstances which belong to city 

 life, and more especially part-ain to New York and its surround- 

 ing cities, is the nuisance f^-om tree worms. This is so serious 

 in its character, although limited in duration to no more than a 

 few weeks in the j^ear, as to have prevented our citizens gener- 

 ally from enjojnng the shade and solace of trees and shrubs in 

 their courtyards and gardens. The general taste of the people 

 would induce them to plant trees along our streets. But the 

 display of this taste is, if not utterly thwarted, at least very 

 seriously interfered with, by the necessity of selecting those trees 

 which are not liable to the annoyance of being infested by 

 worms. 



It is not necessary for me to enlarge upon the humanizing effect 

 of ornamental trees and shrubbery, or on the increased value of a 

 home or a city made attractive by its streets and gardens livid 

 with umbrageous green. 



Passing by the more poetical and attractive features of my 

 subject, I will draw your attention to some views of a utilitarian 

 character, and endeavor to point out some methods of removing 

 the only drawback to the enjoyments I have hinted at, and which 

 your own imagination will not fail to fill up. 



For this purpose it will be necessary, first, to give as briefly as 

 possible the natural history of the insects and worms which most 

 infest the trees of this locality. 



So far as I know, there is no tree which is entirely free from 

 this species of vermin. The Ailianthus, although generally sup- 

 posed to be exempt, has, however, for its enemy, as I have repeat- 

 edly seen, a species of army worm ; but the ravages of these 

 insects are very limited in extent, rarely destroying a sufficient 

 amount of foliage to be perceptible to a careless examiner. 



