FRUIT-GARDENING. 35 



be put to their ravages in succeeding years ; but if suffered to 

 remain on the ground, they will supply food to myriads of 

 their destructive race, which may not be so easily extirpated. 



The most effectual way of preventing the operations of the 

 Curculio is, to spread sheets of cloth beneath the trees and jar 

 them off, by a sharp blow with a mallet against the end of a 

 large iron spike, or pin driven into the body of the tree, when 

 the insects will fall from the trees on the sheets, and may be 

 turned into a vessel of hot water and destroyed. 



THE CANKER-WORM. 



The canker-worm is another enemy to our fruits, for the 

 destruction of which many experiments have been tried. 

 Some apply bandages around the body of the tree, smeared 

 over with tar or ointment, to annoy or entrap the females in 

 their ascent to the tree ; but as these tormentors are frequently 

 on the move from November to the end of June, this must be 

 a very tedious as well as uncertain process. As this insect is 

 supposed to exist within four feet of the trunk of the tree, and 

 not more than three or four inches from the surface of the earth, 

 good culture, and a moderate use of lime, ashes, or any other 

 pernicious ingredient, is the most likely way to destroy them. 

 Every worm should be destroyed, whenever they appear, by 

 crushing, when they are not so numerous as to render it im- 

 practicable. 



