98 CULTURE. AND MANAGEMENT 



its proper influence, and encourage every proprietor 

 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, im- 

 penetrable to moths or worms. If it should be gene- 

 rally adopted, it is very probable that these pernicious 

 insects will be finally exterminated. It might be prof- 

 itable to make the experiment upon a small scale, by 

 confining 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 progress 

 through it, and whether the lime will have the effect 

 of decomposing them. It has already been intimat- 

 ed, (page 61,) that flax-rubbish and sea-weed, might 

 be laid round orchard trees so as to prove a remedy a- 

 gainst these insects. Those substances, 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 a- 

 gencjr 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 circumstances permit, 

 be suffered to run unrestrained, in orchards, during 

 autumn and spring, for that purpose. A general re- 

 sort to this expedient, might have a happy tendency 

 in preventing the annoyance of these, and other in- 

 sects, in our orchards. 



It is well known, that several species of birds teed 

 voraciously upon the canker worm, and other tribes 

 of insects ; it would be advantageous, therefore, to 

 encourage the increase of the feathered tribe, by ali 

 the means in our power. 



