232 THE APPLE CULTUBIST. 



large numbers. When millers fly into our dwelling, and 

 flutter about the lamp in the evening, by destroying them 

 a large number of caterpillars or other noxious depredators 

 may be exterminated. 



Bottle-traps for Insects. One of the most convenient and 

 efficient ways to trap many kinds of insects, bugs, beetles, 

 and millers, is to procure a large number of small bottles, 

 and fill each about half full of switchel, adding a few spoon- 

 fuls of cider-vinegar to a quart. Then make little shelves, 

 and nail them to the side and limbs of the trees, as shown 

 in Fig. 51, page 117, for receiving the bottles. The insects 

 will find this aromatic beverage, and will collect in large 

 numbers within the bottles, so that the contents will have 

 to be changed sometimes every day. Some writers have 

 recommended to suspend such bottles by a cord. But it 

 will be found a much more satisfactory way to place the 

 bottles on small shelves, as many insects will not climb 

 down a cord to a swaying bottle. We feel confident that a 

 person will never suspend his bottles more than once if he 

 can procure such little shelves as we have recommended. 



The Canker-worm (Anisopteryx vernata). This pest of 

 our fruit-orchards is distinguished from most other cater- 

 pillars that attack the apple, by having but four prolegs at 

 the end of the body. The normal number of such prolegs 

 in caterpillars is ten ; and it is the lack of the foremost six 

 which obliges this insect to span or loop, from which habit 

 the characteristic name Gfeometridce has been given to the 

 family to which it belongs. The Canker-worm is by no 

 means confined, in its destructive work, to the apple ; for it 

 likewise attacks the plum, the cherry, the elm, and a variety 

 of other trees. The full-grown worms vary greatly in the 

 depth of shading and in the ground-color different shades 

 of ash-gray, green, and yellow, almost always occurring in 

 different individuals of the same brood. This same varia- 



