22 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1878. 



a hole from four to six inches long, so that the injury is lasting. Many 

 trees come- from the nursery containing eggs or small caterpillars, 

 especially the larger ones. For a remedy, the trees should be carefully 

 examined before planted, scrape the loose bark carefully from the base, 

 make a mound of wood ashes or other manure around the base and from 

 six to eight inches high, a small circle only around the body ; remove 

 the mound in July, spreading it over the ground, and be sure no eggs 

 have been left. Make another mound in September, an' I allow it to re- 

 main till it thaws in spring. If the borers are in the wood dig them out, 

 being sure to kill every one. A wire with a barbed end run into the holes 

 will usually do the work, but sometimes it is necessary to use a brace and 

 bit, chisel and mallet, covering the wound, if it is much of a one, with 

 grafting wax. The tent caterpillar next received attention, its destruc- 

 tion by attacking the eggs or by crushing the pests when in the tents 

 being urged. Another enemy considered was the lappet caterpillar, 

 which is found on the leaves eating in the night ; hand killing is best for 

 them. For canker worms tar and lard mixed and spread on a paper band 

 he considered a good remedy, and bark lice can be taken care of by wash- 

 ing the limbs occasionally with a strong solution of potash. Plant lice 

 should be treated to a solution of strong carbonate of ammonia, using 

 half an ounce to a quart of water, and applying with a syringe, force 

 pump, wisp of straw, or corn broom. For the coddlinj moth the plan of 

 A. Greenman of Lockport, N". Y, was recommended. The i)ear i.s sub 

 ject to the same insects as the apple, and has also plant lice which can be 

 destroyed by the ammonia solution, a dressing of wood ashes, or air 

 slaked lime. Blight, the speaker believed, to be caused by an insect thai 

 bores into the heart of the limb at the base of a bud and eats olf the inner 

 grains, causing the leaves and limb to die; cutting the limb below the 

 seat of the disease and burning is the sure remedy. He advocated treat- 

 ing the exitiosa, an additional enemy of the peach, by ihe use of the 

 scraper and knife, or fire, if their progenitors can be caught. He spoke 

 of the quince as not having as many enemies as the aj^ile, but hubject to 

 the attacks of the borer and leaf slug. The greatest enemy of the grape 

 he considered to be the thrip, with no remedy that he knew of; but for 

 the plant louse which works at the roots he would use slaked lime and 

 salt. Strawberries he spoke of as having no enemies, save the corn grub 

 and black tiea. which breeds on- old beds from decaying leaves. Their 

 habits he wante I to study further. For the currant worm and leaf hopper 

 slaked lime when the dew is on he found effective. He also recom- 

 mended giving the insects which affect flowei'S their full share of ntteution. 

 Prof. Stockbridge, of Amherst was called upon, and referred to the im- 

 portance of dealing with man as the first enemy of the phnits, as he 

 shortens their lives by forcing and producing early maturity, which 

 causes early decay. The only way to success in any department, he con- 



