JVotcs and Gleanings. 37 



More of Cankcr-ivorms. — Would, Mr. Editor, that there miglit be an end 

 of them. That the young larvJE are quite tender, I believe, is generally admitted ; 

 but is the prevai'ing idea correct that this insect, in its perfect state, is sensitive 

 to cold, and easily destroyed by frost ? With me, a large proportion of the can- 

 ker-worms are early risers, and generally ascend the tree before the closing up 

 of the ground, in autumn, though I find them at intervals, whenever the weath- 

 er is open and pleasant, throughout the whole winter. They may be crushed, 

 and thus somewhat reduced, by the late ploughing recommended by your corre- 

 spondent ; but so far as regards their suppression at this stage of growth through 

 the agency of cold or frost, I am somewhat sceptical. Further than this, I am 

 satisfied that, even with the faithful use of all known preventives, we shall be able 

 to do scarcely more than to carry on a sort of inefficient running fight on the 

 defensive. Providence and the elements aside, the canker-worm will prove itself 

 king. This is shown in all its past history, and it is being confirmed to-day. 

 That it has been moving steadily on during the last fifteen or twenty years, bid- 

 ding defiance to every means an enlightened age could devise for its extirpation, 

 is undeniable. 



The following fact may aflford some encouragement to such of your readers as 

 may be interested in this subject. In 178S the canker-worm prevailed through- 

 out most of New England. In many localities not a green leaf was spared to the 

 orchards, and the crop of apples was entirely destroyed. Of the many preven- 

 tives recommended at the time, the following, from the old Massachusetts Maga- 

 zine of 1789, will serve as a specimen : " Early in spring (in the month of 

 March) fasten round the trunk of the tree a strip of sheepskin of about three 

 inches in width, dressed with the wool on. This will so entangle the worms as 

 that they cannot reach the limb of the tree." Signed, " A Citizen of Boston." 

 Applied in spring, of course the remedy availed nothing, and at present 

 is found to furnish a very partial protection even if applied in autumn. I 

 am unable to give the time of duration, but their extermination was sudden and 

 complete. Early in June there " came a frost, a killing frost," and in a single 

 night the work of annihilation was finished. The canker-worm was not. 



A Distinction without a Difference. — Mr. Parkman's unpretending article 

 may well save a good many dollars to florists, as well as a good deal of 

 disappointment, and we are glad to see a man who has courage to expose such 

 deceptions, and we hope he will continue the good work. 



The Walter Grape. — Why cannot we oftener have a good, honest, unex- 

 aggerated engraving of a new fruit, instead of the nurseryman's cuts of specimens 

 which may have existed, but which, unfortunately, nobody but the proprietor 

 ever happened to see ? The Journal which, like yours, Mr. Editor, makes it a 

 rule to give none but original engravings from actual specimens, must certainly 

 receive the support of all who wish an impartial account of a new fruit, and are 

 not satisfied with the partisan accounts of those whose interest it is to sell 

 them. 



Russian Apples. — Well, I had no idea, and I do not think many others had 

 until they were brought together, that we were indebted to the Russian Bear for 

 so many apples. It is no strange thing that these varieties should succeed so 



