SECRETARY'S REPORT. 101 



INSECTS. 



The habits of the insects that are injurious to the growth of 

 the cranberry, have not been carefully studied, and sufficient 

 information has not been collected to enable me to speak with 

 confidence on this subject. There are two worms, known as 

 the vine worm and the berry worm, injurious to the cranberry. 

 The first is a variety of the caterpillar, about half an inch in 

 length, with a black head. The other, when fully grown, is of 

 nearly the same size, and has a red head, and probably belongs 

 to the curculio family. The vine worm destroys the leaves and 

 blossoms, and consequently the crop. The bogs in which they 

 commit their depredations, appear as if they had been burnt 

 over. The berry worm is usually found in greater numbers in 

 the dryest part of the bog. Like the curculio, it destroys the 

 fruit it enters. 



The cultivators who have had the most experience, say that 

 if the bog is kept covered with water till the 25th of May or 

 first of June, these pests rarely commit any depredations. 

 Cyrus Cahoon, Esq., makes this statement, and there is no man 

 in the county who has had so good an opportunity to judge 

 accurately. 



One-half of the bogs in this county are so situated that they 

 cannot be kept flooded till June 1st. Dr. Shove, of Yarmouth, 

 Rev. Mr. Myrick, and other gentlemen in Provincetown, have 

 perhaps studied the habits of these insects more carefully 

 than any, and have experimented with decoctions of tobacco 

 and other articles. They have been partially successful. 

 Prof. Agassiz suggests that the following experiment for 

 destroying the fruit worm be tried : First, to ascertain at what 

 season of the year it appeared in its miller state, and having 

 ascertained that, to build at night at that season of the year, 

 small fires in the vicinity of the bogs. The millers will fly into 

 the fire, and be destroyed. If every one who has a cranberry 

 bog will watch the habits of these insects and report his obser- 

 vations, much valuable information will be obtained. This 

 should not be carelessly done. The date of every observation 

 should be carefully noted. If building fires is the remedy, it 

 is all-important to know the exact date at which the insect 

 appears as a miller, and how long he continues in that state. 

 Tiie probability is that he does not exist as a miller more than a 



