OF FRUIT TREES. 87 



tar in season is too apt to be neglected, through 

 hurry of business and forgetfulness. The insects 

 are so amazingly prolifick, that if ever so few of 

 them get up, a tree is ruined, at least for the en- 

 suing season. 2. The pasturing of swine in an or- 

 chard Dr. Dean supposes to be an excellent me- 

 thod, where it can conveniently be done. With 

 their snouts and their feet they will destroy many 

 of the insects before they come out of the ground ; 

 and he has never known any orchard constantly 

 used as a hog-pasture, wholly destroyed, or even 

 made wholly unfruitful by worms. But this me- 

 thod cannot always be taken ; and if it could, he 

 does not suppose it would be quite effectual. He 

 considers tarring as the preferable antidote, and 

 gives the following directions for applying the arti- 

 cle in the most effectual manner. 



In the first place, it is necessary to begin the ope- 

 ration very early in the year. Not observing this 

 caution has occasioned the want of success which 

 many have complained of; for it is certain that the 

 bugs will begin to pass up as soon as the ground is 

 so much thawed, that they can extricate them- 

 selves ; which is, in some years, as early as Feb- 

 ruary. Therefore, to make sure work, it is best 

 to begin as soon as the ground is bare of snow in 

 that month, that the first thawing of the ground 

 may not happen before the trees are prepared; 

 for beginning after ever so few of the insects have 

 gone up, the labour will all be lost. Another 

 thing to be observed is, to fill the crevices of the 

 bark with clay mortar before the strip of linen or 

 canvass is put on, that the insects may not find any 

 passages for them under it. Having put on the 

 strip, which should be at least three inches wide, 

 drawn it close, and strongly fastened the ends to- 

 gether, a thumb-rope of tow should be tied round 

 the tree, close to the lower edge of the strip. 

 The design of doing this is, that the tar may not 



