I8t8.] 



TRANSACTIONS. 2^ 



sidered, was close and persistent work. He had heard it stated that the 

 losses in this country from the work of insects is over $300,0(0,000 an- 

 nually, and considered the subject as one justly deserving the most care- 

 ful attention and most thorough experiments. 



Leander WethercU, Esq , also spoke of the importance of the subject, 

 and of the insect as the greatest pe^l of the farm and garden, saying the 

 man who learns to protect the crops from it has accomplished a very im- 

 portant work in the field of industry. He spoke of the canker worm as 

 the greatest enemy of fruit growers, and wonder* d that no device has 

 ever been perfecteil which will eftectually keep him from the trees. Mr. 

 Pierce, of Arlington, one of the greatest fiuit growers in the state, had 

 succeeded by diligence, tar and printer's ink, and the latter was most 

 strongly rec mmended. A portion of Mr. Pierce's success was due to his 

 pruning, his npple trees being cut the first or second week in June. He 

 believed in taking off the wood when convenient, but in lea\ing a stub 

 of six or eight inches, which is again cut in June and carefully covered 

 with grafting wax, always healing and incieasing health and fruitful- 

 ness He also used a mukh under the trees to catch the early apples, 

 which would then bring a good [nice in the market. Caterpillars, he said, 

 should be treated by cutting down the hedges of wild cherry trees, the 

 harbors of these pests, and attacking the pests when they are in the tents 

 and crushing them. His remarks referi-ed to the apple, which he con 

 sidered the most pi'ofitable crop for farmers to grow, and he spoke highly 

 of the value of odd year Baldwin. He spoke a good woid for the birds 

 as among the best of the insect destroyers, and would sooner divide the 

 cherries with them than the trees with the insects. Skunks were also 

 spoken of as a gieat destroyer of garden insects, and crows weie con- 

 sidered as the farmer's coworkers and as standing at the head of the insect 

 destroyers ; although they pull corn he believed it better to protect the 

 corn for a time and preserve the crows. He also recommended highly 

 the culture of llowei'S as yielding a most important influence everywhere. 



The discussion turned to the work of insects on shade trees, Mr. 

 WethercU considering the rock maj^le as .freest and Mr. Had wen speaking 

 of the beech and ash as affected only by caterpillars. 



Mr. Hadweu spoke of insects as demanding the attention of man, and 

 not being left to nature. The ravages of the canker worm were referred 

 to, and the importance of diligence in lighting him strongly urged, 

 printer's ink being recommended as one of the most effective agents for 

 its destruction. The importance of getting ahead of the worm was 

 strongly presented. The codding moth he believed could be conquered 

 by industry and study, and thought favorably of a solution of soap, tar 

 and water, which is also effective in the treatment of the curculio. The 

 coddling moth miller he had caught by putting a light in a barrel and 

 covering the inside with a sticky substance, but had not tried the experi- 



