Lr ) THE GENESEE FAKMKE. 263 (f ^ 



They have sixteen feet ; the first three pairs being jointed, and ending with a point or claw, the 

 others fleshy tubercles without proper joints. They are very impatient of being touched, and on 

 being taken into the hand, move with great agility, and by jerks, both forwards and backwards. 

 AVhen the trees are shaken, the insects spin down, and hang suspended by threads. Probably most 

 of thetn leave the trees in the same way, when their course is finished. In some places, it was 

 observed that they all took their departure during heavy showers, towards the end of June. My 

 official engagements, at that time, prevented my observing their progress abroad. 



AJl the specimens sent to me, that remained alive, together with a few from ray trees, were put 

 into a wide-mouthed bottle, and were supplied with leaves. About the 28th of June, some of these 

 worms begiin to cover themselves with a transparent web, formed of a few delicate silken threads. 

 One of them was transformed to a chrysalis within its web on the 5th of July, and became a 

 winged moth on the 9th ; having remained in the chrysalis state only four days. Others were more 

 tardy in their transformations; and one still remains a chrysalis. More than half of the whole 

 were unable to take this form, having perished in the worm state from the attacks of an internal 

 parasite, a minute grub, which after preying on the vitals of its victim, left the body and spun 

 itself a little oval whitish cocoon or pod, from which it emerged soou afterwards as a tiny four- 

 winged ichneumon fly. 



" The chry.~alis of the palmer worm is only one-quarter of an inch long. It is of a pale brown 

 color, and differs from that of the common bud-worm in not having any transverse rows of teeth 

 around the body. The moth is of an ashen grey color above, whitish and lustrous like satin beneath. 

 The fore wings are very narrow, and are sprinkled with a few black dots, three of which, near the 

 middle, are larger than the rest. The hind wings are also narrow, blackish, and surrounded by 

 very broad fringes. The antenna? are bristle-formed. The palpi, oi* feelers, project horizontally 

 from the head, in the form of a brush-like snout, and from the middle of the upper side of each of 

 them arises the curved and pointed terminal joint, like a little spur. The tongue is spirally rolled, 

 and when extended measures about half the length of the antennae. This little moth rests with the 

 fore part of the body slightly elevated, the narrow wings horizontally incumbent upon the body, 

 and the antcnnte turned backwards and lying straight upon the wings. The insect may now be 

 seen on the wing in the evening, soon after sunset ; and it may also be found, in considerable num- 

 bers, among the grass, at a somewhat earlier hour. 



" A scientific name and character, with the classification of this moth, remain to be given. It 

 belongs to a group or tribe called Tineadji, and to the genus Rhhiosia of Treitsche, or (JhcetochUus 

 of Stephens. Most of the insects belonging to the above named tribe are of small size, and have 

 diminutive specific names ending in ella. As this insect frequents the orchard (in Latin pmnetum), 

 it may be called Rhinosia pomHella, the little Rhinosia, or the little Snout-moth, of the orchard. 

 From other species of the same genus it may be distinguished by the following characters: Fore 

 wings ash-gray, sprinkled with blackish dots, three of which, larger than the rest, are placed trian- 

 gularly near the middle ; a dusky transverse band near the tips, and a curved row of seven black 

 dots at the origin of the terminal fringe. Hind wings dusky, with a leaden luster, black veins, 

 and very long black fringes. Body and legs beneath, yellowish-white, with the luster of satin. 

 Length, from the forehead to the ends of the closed wings, five-sixteenths of an inch. Expansion 

 of the wings, five-eights of an inch. 



" Some hope may be entertained that the little parasites, alluded to in the foregoing account, may 

 tend greatly to check the future undue increase of the palmer worms. Should a second generation 

 of the latter appear during the present summer, or should we have another visitation of them next 

 year, or at any future time, some means for arresting their depredations may become necessary. 

 Showering the trees with soap-suds, or a solution of whale-oil-soap, or with lime-water, dusting 

 ashes or air-slaked lime on the leaves, when wet with dew or rain, or casting dry sand upon the 

 trees, may be found serviceable." 



I AM much pleased with your article on "Raising Fruits from Seed," and I think it 

 will have a tendency to awaken an interest in that direction. In the fall of 1849 I 

 planted as soon as the seeds were perfect, and taken fresh from the fruit, Grapes, Cur- 

 rants, Raspberries, Apples, Peaches, Pears, Cherries, and Plums, and every variety came 

 up in due season, and have done far better than I could have expected. My Currants 

 and Raspberries are very nice varieties ; one bush of Raspberries are later than com- 

 mon. One of my seedling Grapes has fruit on this season ; so far they look very fine. 

 It is a seedling from the Catawba^ and the grapes are now larger than on the original. 

 If the fruit proves as good as I anticipate, I will send you a layer from it, if desired. 

 C. W.—Lake Grove, JSf. Y. 



