272 AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 



These are hatched by the warmth of May, each nest of eggs 

 producing a pretty numerous colony of worms, which at first 

 ore not thicker than pins, and half the length of a wheat grain. 

 They soon begin to feed and grow, and make their nest, chang- 

 ing their skins from time to time, and strengthening them- 

 selves and enlarging their dwelling, until in June they ma- 

 ture and wander off to spin their cocoons. 



The moths come out about the first of July, and in a few 

 days after deposit their eggs for the next season. 



Remedies : the first and best is to collect the eggs for burn- 

 ing in the fall after the trees lose their foliage, and if not at- 

 tended to then, let it be done in winter or very early spring. 

 The second best is to watch for the very first sign of the form- 

 ation of the nests, when but little larger than a hen's egg, and, 

 choosing a moist or cloudy day, either cut off and burn them, 

 or, armed with a thick glove, crush them ; though so small, 

 they are all there. 



But, if these opportunities are neglected, there remains the 

 ordinary laborious attempts to do late what might have been 

 done early with ease : to gather and crush or burn them when 

 nearly full grown ; to sponge them with ammonia ; to burn 

 them in the nest ; to twist them out with a pronged stick, or 

 swab them with turpentine, most of which can be but partial 

 remedies. 



It has an enemy in a parasitic insect, the small white co- 

 coons of which are often found attached to those of the worm. 

 For the destruction of the moth, evening fires of brush or tar 

 in the orchard at moth-time, continued for a week or two, are 

 most effectual. 



Dr. Fitch suggests that perhaps the wild cherry might be 

 advantageously used as a natural decoy for the protection of 

 valuable orchards, being planted near, and perfectly cleared of 

 the eggs every fall or winter. It would seem worthy at least 

 of a trial. 



NET WORM AND PARENT MOTH. 



The color of the moth varies from yellow to brown ; the 

 wings are crossed by four or five darker bands, and spotted 



