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252 



THE GENliSEE FAKMER. 



be afforded for a few days. Evergreen boughs, or boards set on their edge and meeting 

 at the top, forming a roof over the. rows of plants, are easily applied. 



If such a course as this is followed, strawberry plants may be set in any month of 

 summer, and in any sort of weather. Nothing can be a greater waste of time than the 

 ver}' common method of planting in a soil as dry as ashes, and then dribbling a little 

 water on every day. People say, " I can not see why it is my plants die ; I water them 

 every day." They do not understand that this every day sprinkling amounts to nothing 

 more than to hasten the death of the plants. One good thorough soaking of the ground 

 before the plants are set, will generally sustain them till re-rooted, and is worth a thou- 

 sand sprinklings afterwards. 



We intended, at this time, merely to touch upon this single point. As to varieties, 

 preparation of soil, mode of planting, &c., we must refer to past numbers of the Farmer. 

 We must say this much, however, that the soil should be trenched eighteen inches to 

 two feet deep, and be enriched witt well rotted compost or manures. Then the plants 

 must be set at sufficient distance apart to admit of clean and good culture until the 

 fruit is fit to be gathered. 



We see ^uite enough of planting in common fields, and allowing the plants to run 

 at random, and cover the whole ground. Rather than adopt such a course, it is much 

 better to resolve never to plant a strawberry. Just at the moment when abundant 

 food and moi&ture is indispensable, the thin surface of the ground is parched, and the 

 fruit withers on its stalk, instead of coming to full and perfect maturity. The straw- 

 berry does not require an expensive or difficult management, but a constant care the 

 year round, without which it is a most unprofitable object of cultivation. 



THE PALMER WORM. 



Throughout a large portion of the New England States, and in parts of New York, 

 orchards have suffered severely from the ravages of a strange looking caterpillar, that 

 few people had ever seen before. We were glad to find the following history and 

 accounts of its transformations, in the Cambridge (Mass.) Chronicle of July 21, written 

 by Professor Harris. 



" During the month of June, a small worm, or naked caterpillar, has been observed on apple trees, 

 in larjie numbers, throughout the greater part of New England, and in the valley of tlie Hudson in 

 New York. By some persons it was thought to be a new comer ; and by others was mistaken for 

 a second generation of the canker worm, which disappeared about tlie time that these smaller 

 insects began their ravages. This, however, is by no means the first visitation of the insect in such 

 unwelcome and destructive profusion. As long ago as the year 1791, it prevailed through many 

 parts of New England, during the mouth of June, and at that time received the name of tlie Palnur 

 worm. Some accounts of its ravages in oi'chards and even among forest trees, at that date may be 

 found, under the head of insects, in the second edition of Dr. Dane's " New England Farmer and 

 Georgical Dictionary." 



Communications concerning this insect, several of thera accompanied by specimens, have been 

 sent to me from Bi'adford, Andover, and Westford, Ma-^s.; from New Boston, and Keeue, New 

 Hampliire ; from New IJaven and Salisbury, Conn.; and from Providence, 11. I. Apple, cherry 

 and plum trees in my own garden, also afforded me a few of the same insects, Avhich were first 

 observed there about tiie tenth of June. Within the past three weeks, numerous accounts of this 

 flupposcd new or hitherto unnoticed depredator have been published in all our agricultural news- 

 papers. In some j)laces orchards have suffered from these insects in the same way and to as great 

 an extent as from the ravages of canker worms ; aud in some cases, not only the leaves, but the 

 young fruit has been destroyed by them. 



These worms, or caterpillars, grow to the length of about half an inch. Tliough varying 

 somewhat iii liue, they are mostly of a pale yellowish green color, with two blackish lines along 

 the top of the back, and a brownish head. Under a magnifier, a few short hairs ean be seen on the 

 body, arising singly from little black points, arranged in ihices on eacii side of every ring ; and thei-o 

 are usually two, more or less consi)icuous, semicircular, blackish spots on the top of the lirst ring, 



