26 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1867. 



Many persons who were formerly in the habit of using a solution of Gum 

 Shellac, as an application to the wounds upon their trees, occasioned by prun- 

 ing, have been deterred, of late years, by the unconscionable price of that 

 article. It will be grateful intelligence to all who dislike leads and paints, to 

 learn that Gas Tar is a convenient and unsurpassed styptic for such wounds. 

 Composed essentially of Carbon, it contains no element that is noxious, while 

 its instant and perfect adhesion renders it infinitely superior to Grafting- Wax, 

 or Shellac. Trees of the Cherry and Pear can be shown, which, after an expo- 

 sure of three years, display as healthy cicatrices as the most fastidious and 

 exacting horticultural surgeon could desire. 



The Bottles and Stands for Cut Flowers have been more than doubled in 

 number during the past year. This increase, absolutely unavoidable as it was, 

 iuvolved considerable expense, which was much diminished by the courteous 

 generosity of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in the loan of their 

 moulds or patterns. Mr. John C. Newton, the efficient Chairman of the Com- 

 mittee of Arrangements, was indefiitigable in this matter, and the gratitude of 

 the Society is justly his due. Even with these augmented facilities, so great 

 was the contributions of Flowers at the Annual Autumnal Exhibition, that 

 there were but few Stands unused. Without the additional supply members 

 would have felt that their interests had not been properly cared for, and that 

 by an unwise and untimely parsimony, the Sociciety bad purchased its own 

 disgrace. 



A quantity of Vegetable Seeds was received in Spring from Hon. John D. 

 Baldwin ; which, when sub-divided, were distributed among the members at the 

 weekly meetings. Subsequently, the Department of Agriculture forwarded 

 some packages of Flower-seeds. The latter were assigned to different persons, 

 chiefly ladies, upon their promises, express or implied to report upon their 

 value and vitality. In the non-fulfilment of those promises, will be found an 

 explanation of the inability to decide whether " any good thing " had, at last, 

 " come out"' of Washington. 



A PEST. 



The accounts from the Western States of the destruction caused by the 

 Dorypliora decemlinmta, or Ten-Lined Spearman, to the existence of which 

 Insect your attention was invited in the Report for 1866, are well calculated 

 to awaken increased alarm among cultivators of the potato. It is astonishing, 

 and would be disgraceful, were we authorized from their past history to 

 expect anything better, that our State Societies and Boards of Agricul- 

 ture should await, with such stolid indifference, the steady approach of 

 this pest. Its origin and history are alike obscure. It is reported to have 

 had its origin in the vicinity of the Pi,ocky Mountains, to which lovely region we 

 are said to be indebted for the Currant- Worm. Like that interesting creature, 

 and the Cotton, or Army Worm, it appears from the most precise accounts, to 

 propagate without ceasing. A new brood is ready to succeed the old one when 



