118 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. Strong said that the difficulty with the rose bug is that it is 

 attracted by the fragrance when the vine is in bloom and attacks 

 the bunches. He had feared injury by London purple. He had 

 not tried it, but thought he might as well. 



William H. Hunt said that he has several vineyards and in some 

 has had very little trouble from rose bugs. In one he has always 

 had more or less. A few j-ears ago, he had four hands picking 

 them. He had no doubt that Paris Green would assist in destroy- 

 ing them. There are a few varieties with tender leaves which the 

 rose bugs will eat with as much avidity as the blossoms. The 

 Clinton is one of thes^ and the rose bugs congregate on it and can 

 then be killed. One vinej'ard is in the vicinity of forty acres of 

 grass, and this is the worst infested, but he got the better of two 

 rows next to the grass. He has picked quarts and reduced their 

 numbers in recent years. Certainly he has not so many as ten 

 years ago. 



Mr. Strong repeated that he did not believe in picking, but if 

 one is going to do it, Spiroea sorhifolia is the best trap ; it will be 

 covered with them. He has bushels instead of quarts. 



The Chairman said that he should not like to use Paris green 

 on his roses when they were in bloom. 



Samuel Hartwell said that some years ago he planted a viuejard 

 and kept it free from rose bugs by picking them ; there are, how- 

 ever, other causes besides picking for tiieir disappearance. 

 Canker worms ascend the trees from sundown to dark. He had 

 used tar with success against them, finding it full of the grubs in 

 the morning, but to be effectual it must be applied every day. As 

 with the rose bugs there are other causes which lessen their num- 

 bers. 



Professor Feruald said that the tussock moth has done much 

 damage to the trees on Boston Common. 



Alfred Paul thought that the sudden disappearance ef insects 

 might be caused by parasites. He had noticed such a disappear- 

 ance of the cabbage worm. Rose bugs were \e.vy numerous with 

 him, but three years ago they suddenl}' disappeared. Some years 

 ago, the larvae of the May beetle were so abundant that tiie turf 

 where they had cut off the roots could be raked off. This con- 

 tinued for two or three years and then they entirely disappeared. 

 He had noticed the same thing with regard to the tent caterpillar. 



Professor Fernald gave some of his experiences while residing 



