140 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



Fig. 2568. Male AND Fk.malk Moth. 



were hatched. As they increase in size thev 

 construct additional layers of silk over those 

 previously made, attaching them to the 

 neighboring twigs, and leaving between the 

 layers space enough for the caterpillars to 

 pass. * * * jj^ f^yg Qj. 5J^ weeks they 

 become full grown, and then measure about 

 an inch and three-quarters in length, and 

 present the appearance shown in Fig. 2567, 

 a and b. 



We do not need to continue this extract, as 

 every orchardist must be only too familiar 

 with the way in which these worms strip the 

 foliage ofif the orchard trees in the month of 

 June. 



The practised eye of the fruit grower will 

 readily detect the ^^^ clusters in March or 

 April, when pruning, and a great part of the 

 «ests readily destroyed, while a thorough 

 treatment with Paris green will destroy them 

 in summer if not too long delayed. There 

 is another variety known as the Forest Tree 

 Tent Caterpillar, that invades our orchards 

 from forests that border upon our orchards ; 

 and with such a breeding place their in- 

 vasion becomes so serious that their destruc- 

 tion is by no means an easy thing. 



BLACK KNOT. 



MR. D. C CROSBY, of Berwick, N. S., 

 writes that many plum trees in the Ann- 

 apolis Valli y. Nova Scotia, are being cut 

 down, bei'ig so badly infested with black knot, 

 an 1 for this reason very few new plum orchards 

 are being planted. 



Surely there is no need to give up the cul- 

 tivation of the plum on account of the pre- 

 valence of black knot. Neglected, it spreads 

 rapidly, and soon destroys the plum and sour 

 cherry trees ; but it is one of the ea.siest to 



control of our numerous fungous enemies. 

 All affected parts should be cut out in the 

 fall and burned, and if the knot is found 

 upon a large limb or trunk where the whole 

 cannot be destroyed, it should be cut out and 

 the wound washed with kerosene. Young 

 knots appearing in summer may also be 

 painted with kerosene, colored with red 

 oxide of iron to mark the parts under treat- 

 ment and give greater consistency to the oil. 

 In Ontario we have a black knot act, com- 

 pelling the destruction of this fungus, which 

 is most effective, and our Nova Scotia 

 friends should try it, as we have done with 

 such success. 



LIME AND SULPHUR SPRAY. 



BARRING the inconvenience of pre- 

 paration, the lime and sulphur 

 spray seems to be the one of our 

 most promising remedies for fungi and scale 

 insects of all kinds. How far it may act in 

 the prevention of apple scab we do not know, 

 but certainly we have considerable testimony 

 to its general usefulness. If only some one 

 particular spray, applied before the busy 

 season, would answer all purposes, no doubt 

 fruit growers would not grumble much at 

 the trouble of its preparation. 



Please give me the jormula, said a gentle- 

 man, who has a fruit farm near Toronto, and 

 I will try it as early as I can in the spring. I 

 have a large new boiler for heating water for 

 my business, and the boiling would be no 

 trouble. I will give it a good trial and give 

 you the result of my experience. 



In reply we gave him the following for- 

 mula : 



Sulphur, 3^2 lb. 



Lime, I pound. 



Water, 40 gallons. 



The sulphur is first put on with a smaller 

 quantity of water, and brought to a boiling 

 point; then the lime is thrown in, adding 

 more water if necessary to prevent burning. 

 When the lime is slacked more water s 



