94 CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT 



The foregoing valuable communication from one 

 so highly deserving of confidence, it is hoped will 

 have its proper influence, and encourage every pro- 

 prietor of an orchard to make the experiment, 

 whenever the canker worm shall again menace us 

 with its ravages. The application of lime appears 

 to be by far the most eligible remedy that has 

 heretofore been proposed. It forms, after being 

 exposed to rain, a hard crust impenetrable to moths 

 or worms. If it should be generally adopted, it is 

 very probable that these pernicious insects will be 

 finally exterminated. It might be profitable to 

 make the experiment upon a small scale, by con- 

 fining some of the moths or worms, in their differ- 

 ent states, in a box of earth, and applying the lime, 

 so as to ascertain how far they will be able to pro- 

 gress through it, and whether the lime will have 

 the effect of decomposing them. It has already 

 been intimated, (page 58,) that flax-rubbish and sea- 

 weed, might be laid round orchard trees so as to 

 prove a remedy against these insects. Those sub- 

 stances, when beaten down by rains, soon become 

 so firm and solid, as to prevent the growth of grass, 

 and I should judge it would be impossible for the 

 insects to penetrate through them. 



It was recommended by Dr. Dean, to endeavour 

 to effect the destruction of canker worms through 

 the agency of swine. These animals appear to 

 possess a natural instinct directing to search with 

 their snouts for vermin and insects, which conceal 

 themselves in the earth. They should, when cir- 

 cumstances permit, be suffered to run unrestrained, 

 in orchards, during autumn and spring, for that pur- 

 pose. I am authorized to say, that in several in- 

 stances in this vicinity, the experiment has been 

 made, and proved in a great degree effectual. A 

 general resort to this expedient, might have a hap- 

 py tendency in preventing the annoyance of these, 

 and other insects, in our orchards. 



