28 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



with what can be done "in the common way." He 

 does not describe that way, but his method was sub- 

 stantially that still followed of applying a mixture of 

 tar and oil with a brush. The proportion was of twenty 

 gallons of thin tar to one of whale oil, and he put it 

 directly upon the trunk of the tree, covering a space 

 of from two to six inches around the trunk according 

 as the insects v/ere running in fewer or greater num- 

 bers. The oil, he says, besides keeping the tar from 

 hardening prevents the tar from injuring the bark. 



The board voted to have the letter printed in the 

 Boston newspapers of the next Thursday and then 

 voted to offer two premiums, the first in the history of 

 the society. One of $50 v/as for "the most satisfactory 

 account of the natural history of the canker-worm," 

 and the other of $100 for the most effectual and cheap- 

 est method of destroying these insects." The letter of 

 Mr. Upton gives details of his method not indicated 

 here. Besides the "common way," whatever that was, 

 other hopeful remedies had been proposed through 

 the public prints and otherwise. At that date any of 

 these seemed as likely to succeed as that of the tar and 

 oil. The object of the trustees was to bring out still 

 other methods that the best might be ascertained, and 

 very logically they began the business by seeking first 

 for adequate knowledge of the habits of the insect. 



Time vv^as taken to consider what other matters were 

 worthy of like attention and in April, 1793, premiums 

 were offered relating to manure; to the cultivation of 

 wheat; to the improvement of wild lands; to the rais- 

 ing of trees; and for the most beef from the fewest 

 acres; the greatest stock (farm animals) maintained 

 on the least land; the best vegetable food, except hay, 

 for wintering stock; the most and best wool from a 

 given number of sheep; the best process for making 



