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The caterpillar sometimes feeds on the leaves ; and the 

 curculio punctures some of the fruit which in consequence 

 becomes wormy ; but no fruit tree yields a more certain 

 crop, bearing every year without intermission unless the 

 blossoms or young fruit be damaged by frost. Some kinds 

 however, as the morello, have been nearly destroyed in 

 some parts of the country by the " black gum." This 

 excrescence is caused by an insect which should be care- 

 fully sought for, late in the spring or early in the summer ; 

 and as soon as the bunches appear, the limb should be 

 cut off and burnt. 



The slug, another insect, feeds on the pulpy part of the 

 leaf, despoiling its verdure and wasting the vigor of the 

 tree. It might almost be mistaken for the filth of some 

 little bird. It soon renders itself conspicuous however, 

 by its works ; and though it sometimes attacks the foliage 

 of other trees, the cherry leaf appears to be its favorite 

 food. It may be destroyed by throwing fresh ashes among 

 the branches by means of a shingle every worm that is 

 covered, perishes. It has been done when the dew was 

 on the leaves ; but if the slug is moist enough of itself to 

 catch the ashes, it would be better to apply them when 

 the leaves are dry, because the latter would neither be 

 injured by the potash, nor defiled by the dust. 



The cherry tree is more impatient of nuisances than 

 most other kinds. Some have been destroyed by ashes 

 thrown round the stem. Under two trees, the pigs were 

 fed with corn, and the cobs scattered over the ground : 

 both perished. In a slight depression near another, the 

 water collected in rainy weather, and the geese dabbled 

 in it : the tree died the same summer. Lime whitewash 

 has also been charged with injuring the cherry tree ; and 

 if it be used at all, the experiment should be cautiously 

 conducted. 



The morello and Kentish appear to be adapted to a 



