CAN 



CAN 



61 



about two or three feet from the 

 roots, so that the whole diameter 

 of the opening was from four to 

 six feet. 



" I tarred these trees as well as 

 the others, and although 1 had 

 worms or grubs on most that were 

 not limfd, I did not catch a single 

 grub, where the trees were limed. 



" I do not mean to speak with 

 confidence, I am however strongly 

 encouraged to believe the remedy 

 perfect. It was assertained by 

 Professor Peck, that the insect 

 seldom descended mto the ground 

 at a greater distance than three or 

 four feet from the trunk, and to 

 the depth of four inches, or that 

 the greater part come within that 

 distance. The lime is known to 

 be destructive of all animal sub- 

 stances, and 1 have little doubt 

 that it actually decomposes and 

 destroys the insect in the chrysalis 

 state, at least I hope that is the 

 case. 



'' There are many reasons 

 which should encourage the repeti- 

 tion of this experiment. The 

 digging round the trees is highly 

 useful to them, while tarring is 

 very injurious. The expense is 

 not great. A man can dig round 

 fifty large trees in one day. 7'he 

 lime is a most salutary manure to 

 the trees. After the spot has been 

 once opened and limed, the labour 

 of keeping it open will not be 

 great. Three hogsheads of air 

 slacked lime, or sweepings of a 

 lime store, will suffice for fifty 

 trees, and will not cost three dol- 

 lars. As it is done but once a 

 year, I think it cannot be half so 

 expensive as tarring.'' 



Mr. Forsyth directs that the 

 body of the tree be covered with 

 a composition of old urine, kept 

 some time for that purpose, soap 

 suds, and fresh cow dung, which 

 he says, if laid on plentifully, will 

 keep off all insects. A strip of 

 oiled paper put round the tree, 

 with the lower end projecting so 

 as to form a rim is recommended. 

 Digging the earth from the roots 

 ol trees, early in the spring and 

 returning it, mixed with a small 

 quantity of sulphur, and sprinkling 

 a little of it, on the surface is said 

 to be effectual for several years. 



It has been ascertained that a 

 few canker worms ofteti rise in 

 autumn as well as in the spring. 

 Professor Peck therefore advises 

 turning up the ground in October 

 as far as the trees extend to the 

 depth of five inches, and breaking 

 the clods and smoothing the sur- 

 face by passing a heavy roller 

 over it, so as to make it very hard 

 and without cracks, which will 

 prevent the canker moths from 

 rising from the earth. See Mass. 

 Agricultural Repository, vol. iv. 

 page 9 1 . 



John Kenrick Esq. of Newton, 

 Mass. proposes the following 

 "New and cheap method" of de- 

 stroying this insect. 



From any time in June,after the 

 worms have entirely disappeared, 

 until the twentieth of October, 

 let the whole of the soil surround- 

 ing the trees, to the extent of at 

 least four feet from the trunks, 

 and to a suitable depth be dug up 

 and carted away; and placed at a 

 distance from any trees the can- 

 ker-worms are in the habit of 



