1865.] secretary's report. 21 



of calamity, the curculio avenged itself upon man for his craven abandoment 

 of the culture of the plum by betaking itself to the apple and cherry, as to the 

 harder pear in a less degree ; and the canker tcorm and caterpiller united their 

 energies to the utter destruction of foliage ; pomologists might well be pardoned 

 for regarding with despair their pleasant and useful avocation. Yet, as by the 

 sweat of his brow man shall earn his bread, so likewise it may be the design of 

 Providence to teach us that in horticulture, as in all things else, the extremest 

 diligence and- patience are requisite to attain that reward which, in unequal 

 measure, but nevertheless in some, is sure to repay the assiduous cultivator. 

 Upon the first appearance of the canker worm your Secretary took some pains 

 to note its apparent course and line of devastation. The following memoran- 

 dum was the result of his observation on the 8th of June : — " On Pleasant 

 street, from Captain Dana's house to xishland street, a belt of cherry trees is 

 entirely denuded of foliage. The lindens are somewhat harmed, the elms 

 scarcely. Upon the old common but few traces of the ravages of the canker 

 worm are discerned. Cutting of the grass, then unusually tall, commenced on 

 the 5th inst. The question suggest itself whether the different species of 

 measuring-worms can propel themselves with the requisite facility where the 

 grass is yet unmown ? Trumbull street was reasonably exempt, although be- 

 traying signs of the destructive presence. On Front street the elms were un- 

 touched ; the lindens were slightly attacked." 



The observation of your Secretary, limited as it necessarily was, in the busiest 

 portion of the year, was mainly restricted to those portions of the city of Wor- 

 cester in which, as he stated in his report last year, the cherry usually mani- 

 fests the most luxuriance and vigor : and even in this adverse season he was 

 surprised to find what a handsome yield there was of this much abused and 

 greatly underrated fruit. But also, as then noticed, of the lighter colored varie- 

 ties, since the Black Tartarian, Black Eagle, &c., were almost wholly and uni- 

 versally failures. — Has color, as heretofore asked, aught to do with this? 



The direction of your Secretary, as already mentioned, was guided and sub- 

 stantially limited by the Hue of development of the cherry. But the fact was 

 too patent not to obtrude itself plainly upon his attention, that the path of the 

 canker-worm is evidently governed by fixed laws ; what these are remains to be 

 determined. No agency appears so well adapted to this end, whether from pro- 

 fession or practice, as Horticultural Societies, fostered by the encouragement of 

 the State. Generous bounties, wisely offered and discreetly bestowed, may possi- 

 bly, nay probably, arrest the career of an "insect-enemy of man," whose rava- 

 ges are to be computed only by the estimate which may be placed upon the fruit 

 crop of the Commonwealth. One of your Vice-Presidents, and an accomplished 

 and learned member of our Society, has expressed the opinion to the Secretary 

 that the worm in question travels from the northeast. There can be little or no 

 doubt that he has done his worst in Middlesex county, which goes so far to con- 

 firm that theory. But, in this city, from their first appearance on Pleasant 

 street, they moved toward and not from the north, scarcely reaching Cedar 

 street before the time for their final disappearance. This and kindred questions. 



