96 CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT 



the silk worm. In this chrysalis state, they con- 

 tinue a few weeks, and in the month of August they 

 burst forth in the form of a brownish coloured mil- 

 ler, the female of which soon wings her way to the 

 apple trees, and deposits her eggs on the twigs, in 

 the same manner as her progenitor, in the preceding 

 year. Thus is an annual progeny generated, and in 

 this manner is the species perpetuated. It will 

 therefore appear evident, that if proper care be 

 taken to destroy these vermin annually, and if all 

 proprietors of orchards will act in concert with this 

 view, the species may be entirely annihilated. The 

 clusters of eggs which contain the young brood, 

 very nearly resemble in colour the bark of the tree, 

 but by a vigilant search they may be detected, and 

 at any leisure time after the month of August, the 

 twigs to which they are attached, should be cut off, 

 and burnt, or the eggs otherwise destroyed. But 

 when this is omitted, and the caterpillars are hatch- 

 ed, and have constructed their nests, and are ram- 

 bling among the branches for food, a different me- 

 thod must be adopted. The trees daring the spring 

 and first part of summer should be carefully search- 

 ed every two or three days, in the morning or even- 

 ing, while the insects are enclosed in their tents, 

 when they are easily crushed with the fingers, or 

 some instrument, or the branch mav be cut off and 



J 



destroyed. It is asserted that spirit of turpentine, 

 or common fish oil, applied to the nest will pene- 

 trate through, and kill every caterpillar within it ; 

 and it is also said, that soap suds will answer the 

 same purpose. Mr. Yates, of Albany, says, he has 

 formerly, and for several successive years, early in 

 the morning while the caterpillars were confined 

 to their nest or web, taken them off and destroyed 

 them. By a repetition of this practice two or three 

 times a weok, for two or three weeks successively, 

 they were totally destroyed ; but of late he has dis- 

 covered a more easy and expeditious method,* and 



