1866.] secretary's report. 33 



and the berries blasted ; and the foe — a dirty, ugly-looking worm, which it 

 makes one crawl all over simply to touch, much more to squash — seems imper- 

 vious to all appliances for his destruction, with the single exception of whale-oil 

 soap. They have been thoroughly coated with white hellebore, so strongly rec- 

 ommended in New York, but without the slightest effect except a momentary 

 paralysis. Yet their habits are such that it would appear as though, by dili- 

 gence, their fell career might be terminated. Usually concentrated upon the 

 lower side of a single leaf, at the base of a bush, they can be found together 

 and summarily destroyed. And they rmist be not only checked but extermi- 

 nated. Cherries might possibly be yielded to the canker worm, but the currant 

 cannot be given up without a straggle ; for an immoderate supply of this inval. 

 uable fruit,, eaten at all hours of the day in its appropriate season, is the most 

 grateful, cheapest, and most effectual prophylactic against the summer diseases 

 of children, if not of adults. 



From the western states of the republic come advices of the slow but sure ad- 

 vance of another fearful pest — DorypJiora decemlineaia, the ten (10) lined 

 spearman ; a new potatato-bug. This insect is said to be advancing eastward 

 at the rate of fifty (50) miles a year. It is to be hoped that, before reaching- 

 our borders, the scientific skill and practical sagacity of our friends at the west 

 may devise some easier and more speedy method for its destruction than the 

 only one known thus far, that of picking it off by hand. 



In calling your attention, at the last annual meeting of the Society, to the re- 

 markable accession of members during the year that had then just elapsed 

 apprehension was felt and expressed that a similar rate of progression could 

 not be permanently maintained. The result has justified this fear. Yet there 

 is cause for congratulation in the fact that the number added to our ranks in 

 1866 largely exceeds the gain in any previous period of correspondino- duration 

 saving only the exceptional year, 1865. Then many were desirous of procurino- 

 our "Transactions," for the first time, after a long interval, printed and pub- 

 lished. Quite an earnest spirit was also generally enlisted in obtainiuo- mem- 

 bers. The season, too, had, in many important particulars, been very propitious 

 for the growth of flowers and fruit. " Meek-eyed Peace " blessed the land. 

 This year, with few or none of these especial auxiliaries, we have been able to 

 enrol nearly a score more recruits than in 1864, with the sole exception already 

 noted, our most prosperous season hitherto. A tabular statement is annexed : 



In 1864 49 



" 18G5 106 



" 1866 61 



A careful scrutiny of these figures discloses some singular facts. Of the 

 entire number — two hundred and seventy-eight (278) in all — who have joined 

 the Society within the last six years, only thirty-six are non-residents of the 

 City of Worcester. One hundred and nine (109) of the new members are 

 females, the majority of whom have been attracted within the last two years by 

 the prominence which the Society has wisely given to the display of flowers and 

 plants. It would appear, then, that the control of the Society is fast passing 



In 1861 1 



" 1862 19 



" 1863 42 



