HATFUL OF CANKER WORMS. 257 



deep; then I spread my manure — ^largely at first, when my 

 trees are small. Then I have the habit (some condemn it), of 

 putting three or four wlieelbarrow loads of compost — no strong, 

 unfermented manures — round the base of the tree in the fall. 

 That I let remain during the winter. It serves to support the 

 tree, and keeps away the mice. There is no straw among it, so that 

 it affords no harbor for mice, but keeps them away. Then early 

 in the spring I take that manure and spread it broadcast over 

 the land, give it a light ploughing, not so as to disturb the roots, 

 and then it is washed in by the spring rains, and the roots of the 

 trees seem to get it. 



Question. Did you ever try wood ashes ? 



Mr. Hyde. I regard wood ashes as one of the most valuable 

 manures I have ever used ; but it is difficult to get them, and 

 the price would be very high. I have used bone dust with very 

 good results, but it costs so high that I have not used it 

 much. 



Question. What do you do with the canker worm ? 



Mr. Hyde. I have lived within seven miles of Boston all my 

 life, and I never saw a hundred canker worms on my trees. 

 When over in Brighton, there was not a leaf on the apple-trees, 

 the foliage on my trees was as fine as you ever saw. They do 

 come, and they are a nuisance, I grant you, but they pass by. The 

 most effectual preventative I find is a mixture of tar and prin- 

 ter's ink, but you must follow it up. And a very good thing to 

 • put around the base of the tree, is a little trough of iron or 

 wood, filled with kerosene oil, with a little protection over it, 

 to prevent the rain and leaves from getting in. It is sure death 

 to them if they attempt to cross it, and none cross unless they 

 are so numerous as to pile right in, hundreds on hundreds, and 

 form a bridge over which some can go. I have seen half a 

 hatful on a tree, within two feet of space. But then, let that 

 not discourage anybody from growing apples. There is nothing 

 to be had in this world, that I know of, that is worth anything, 

 without some difficulties. There are difficulties in the way of 

 everything. There are some in the way of growing apples, but 

 no more than there are in the growing of other kinds of fruit. 

 The canker worms remain but few years and can be successfully 

 fought. 



Question. Will it pay to keep the canker worms off? 



83 



