22 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1865. 



whereof the importance cannot be overrated, should awaken public concern and 

 enlist otHcial and scientific investigation. 



The Massachusetts Horticultural Society, which has accomplished so much 

 for Pomoloory in its long and useful career, and which bids fair, under its pre- 

 sent administration, to exceed whatever it may have achieved in the past, 

 proposes to memorialize the General Court for a suitable act to facilitate the 

 destruction of this pest. May it not become this Society, not the youngest in 

 years of its compeers, and likely not the least useful, lo co-operate in an effort 

 that appeals to all our sympathies as horliculturists, and, failing the success 

 of which, all our hopes and labors must apparently prove vain ! 



The Secretary would state, in this connection, that he has received a printed 

 circular announcing that " The publication committee of the Entomological Socie- 

 ty of Philadelphia purpose to publish, and issue gratuitously, an occasional bulle- 

 tin, under the title of the ' Practical Entomologist,'' in which papers on the in 

 sects injurious and beneficial to vegetation will be given for the benefit of the 

 American farming interest." 



The committee add that " It is not with any intention of prescribing nostrums 

 that we undertake the publication of this bulletin ; we cannot cure where we 

 do not understand the diagnosis of the case ; we recommend neither foolish ob- 

 structions around the trunks of trees which winged insects can surmount, and 

 their larvte have neither the desire nor the necessity to pass : nor expensive 

 decociions. which hurt the plant and which the insect survives, — we simply de- 

 sire, by means of original papers, to bring out the true history of each and all 

 of our obnoxious insects ; and it is believed that, this attained, simple means 

 will suggest themselves by which the evil may be subsided — in certain cases 

 such easy remedies as burning the stubble and vigorous fall plowing. 



The sole aid which the committee solicit is, that all who feel interested in their 

 design will give them, from time to time, by letter or otherwise, such informa- 

 tion as may result from daily observation, and forward alcholic phials contain- 

 ing such specimens of the noxious insects in any vicinity as may be collected, 

 for determination and study, to the secretary of the Entomological Society, at 

 No. 518 South Thirteenth street, Philadelphia." 



The Massachusetts Horticultural Society has also initiated action, upon a 

 subject to which many of your members are painfully alive, by appointing a 

 committee to consider and report upon the " Ravages of Birds.''' In the opin- 

 ion of your Secretary, and of many closer observers than himself, it is not 

 asserting too much to deny the possibility of raising the small fruits, or even 

 the grape, if the robin and cat-bird are suffered to multiply, as of late, under 

 the safeguard of law. The former bird may be a fitting theme for sentiment 

 but his true place is in a Pie. Like the wild Indian, the world would be better 

 without him. No one ever saw him pick up a worm or insect of any kind when 

 any variety of fruit could be obtained. The common hen. if allowed to run, 

 would do more good and steal infinitely less. In a timely and vigorous commu- 

 nication to the Gardener's Monthly, Mr. W. C. Strong, of Brighton, Mass., 

 declares that his name should be spelled with two o'.y. He adds that " he will 



