ORCHARDS. 481 



2. Mr. NICHOLSON recommends to scrape off the shaggy 

 bark to the width of two or three inches; then make a mixture 

 of oil, or blubber, with suitable proportions of sulphur and 

 Scotch snuff; and lay this on with a brush, forming a ring an 

 inch or two wide; and no insect will ever attempt to pass this 

 barrier as long as the composition has any considerable mois- 

 ture left in it. Let it be repeated when it inclines to harden; 

 though perhaps this is not necessary. 



3. The pasturing of swine in an orchard in the fall and 

 spring, has been found very serviceable. These animals ap- 

 pear to possess a natural instinct directing to search for vermin 

 and insects, which conceal themselves in the earth. 



4. The late Mr. PECK, of Massachusetts, recommended as 

 an effectual remedy, turning up the ground carefully in Octo- 

 ber, as far as the branches of a tree extend, to half a spade's 

 depth, or five inches, so as completely to invest the surface. 

 Break the clods, smooth the surface with a rake, and pass a 

 heavy roller over it, so as to make it very hard, and without 

 cracks. If the frost should heave and crack the smooth sur- 

 face in the winter, it must be smoothed and hardened again in 

 March. This will be found less expensive than the long course 

 of tarring. 



5. Dr. THATCHER thinks it highly probable, that a quantity 

 of sea-weed pressed round the trunks of fruit trees, extending 

 three or four feet, would prove a remedy, by forming a com- 

 pact substance, through which the canker moth and worm 

 would not penetrate. 



G. Mr. KENRICK, of Massachusetts, proposes to destroy can- 

 ker worms by the following method: from any time in June, 

 after the worms have entirely disappeared, until the 20th of 

 October, let the whole of the soil surrounding the trees, to the 

 extent of four feet, be dug up and carted away to a consider- 

 able distance; and let there be returned an equal quantity of 

 compost, or rich earth, intermixed with manure. By this ope- 

 ration, the farmer, besides exterminating the worms, promotes 

 the growth and fruitfulness of his trees, and defends them 

 against moles. The author of the Farmer's Assistant observes, 

 that by taking the earth away from the roots of the trees very 

 early in the spring, and destroying whatever may appear to be 

 the abode of any insects, and then returning the earth back, 

 mixed with a small quantity of sulphur, sprinkling some of 

 this upon the surface, is, he believes, the most effectual me- 

 thod to keep every kind of insect from ascending. 



7. Mr. KNAPP, of Boston, has been very successful in the 

 application of lime, as follows: Dig the turf, lay the ground 

 smooth, and apply the lime in the fall. Take air-slaked lime, 

 41 



