324 On the cultivation of the Currant. 



or two facts. In November, 1840, I made a practice, during 

 several successive mornings, of examining the heaps of sand 

 at the foot of some apple and lime trees in my garden. On 

 the morning of November 7th 1 collected thirty-two in three 

 minutes, twenty of which were at the bottom of one tree. 

 Professor Peck estimates that each grub produces one hundred 

 eggs; and if we suppose nine tenths of these eggs to fail, I 

 nevertheless prevented the ravages of three hundred canker 

 worms by the labor of three minutes. Yet, in my garden, the 

 worms have never been so numerous as in those of many of my 

 neighbors, as is shown by the fact that, out of many trees, not 

 one has ever been completely stripped, or so injured that it 

 would be remarked at the distance of ten rods. 



These grubs 1 found on the lower part of the sand, as the 

 day and night before were dry. When rain fell, the sand be- 

 came damp; but if the trunk of the tree is examined a (ew 

 days after, the insects are generally found below the crotch. 

 November llth, 1S40, after a rainy day and night, two men 

 examined my apple trees for two hours, and collected a large 

 quantity of grubs mostly below the crotch. This quantity I 

 cannot state precisely, but the men were fully satisfied that it 

 was nearly one thousand, which would be only at the rate of 

 four or five in one minute to each man. 



I am, therefore, satisfied that this plan of protecting the 

 trees by sand heaps, and picking up the insects, is worth pur- 

 suing, it being understood that I recommend it as a palliative, 

 and not as a complete remedy. 



Boston, Aus., 1842. 



Art. II. Remarks on the cultivation of the Currant. 

 By the Editor. 



Very few of our garden fruits are so much neglected as 

 the currant. Its cultivation seems to be a matter of no con- 

 sideration, and when the bushes are once planted, they are 

 left to take their chance, and little attention is bestowed upon 

 them afterwards. Pruning is entirely forgotten, and the 



