466 LEPIDOPTERA. 



In order to protect our trees from the ravages of canker- 

 worms, where these looping spoilers abound, it should be our 

 aim, if possible, to prevent the wingless females from ascend- 

 ing the trees to deposit their eggs. This can be done by the 

 application of tar around the body of the tree, either directly 

 on the bark, as has been the most common practice, or, what 

 is better, over a broad belt of clay-mortar, or on strips of old 

 canvas or of strong paper, from six to twelve inches wide, 

 fastened around the trunk with strings. The tar must be 

 applied as early as the first of November, and perhaps in 

 October, and it should be renewed daily as long as the in- 

 sects continue rising ; after which the bands may be removed, 

 and the tar should be entirely scraped from the bark. When 

 all this has been properly and seasonably done, it has proved 

 effectual. The time, labor, and expense attending the use 

 of tar, and the injury that it does to the trees when allowed 

 to run and remain on the bark, have caused many persons 

 to neglect this method, and some to try various modifications 

 of it, and other expedients. 



Among the modifications may be mentioned a horizontal 

 and close-fitting collar of boards, fastened around the trunk, 

 and smeared beneath with tar ; or four boards nailed together, 

 like a box without top or bottom, around the base of the tree, 

 to receive the tar on the outside. These can be used to pro- 

 tect a few choice trees in a garden, qr around a house or a 

 public square, but will be found too expensive to be applied 

 to any great extent. Collars of tin-plate fastened around 

 the trees, and sloping downwards like an inverted tunnel, 

 have been proposed, upon the supposition that the moths 

 would not be able to creep in an inverted position, beneath 

 the smooth and sloping surface. This method will also 

 prove too expensive for general adoption, even should it be 



and does not crawl up the trunk like the apterous female of Aniaopieryx. Some 

 persons hearing of the New England method, and presuming that the insects were 

 the same, adopted the plan here recommended, but of course it failed. They were 

 taught better, and now squirt a decoction of tobacco-leaves on the trees, which is 

 an effectual antidote, when the trees are not too high. MORRIS.] 



