144 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



selves (as they will if they have the opportunity), and also to 

 keep the female grubs as low down as possible ; for they will 

 often, when finding the obstruction of tlie ink, back down and 

 after a time deposit their eggs below, even without impregna- 

 tion. Instinct teaches the males to seek their mates higher up 

 the tree in order to have the eggs deposited near where the 

 young will find their food. The best quality of ink should be 

 used, as it remains sticky longer than the cheaper preparations 

 offered for that purpose, some of which are worthless. 



The ink should be applied with a brush, near the top of the 

 paper, so that it may not run down upon the bark of the tree, 

 which causes injury to it by attracting an unnatural amount of 

 heat from the sun. In some instances where the ink has been 

 used without any paper, the tree has been killed. The paper 

 should be removed from the tree after the season is over, as it 

 makes a harbor for various other kinds of insects during the 

 summer months. 



It is contended by many that the eggs deposited in the au- 

 tumn never hatch, and therefore it is useless to apply the ink 

 until spring ; but it is known that many, if not all such do 

 hatcli, and therefore, in order to have it effectual, it is necessary 

 to commence in the fall and apply the ink as often as it dries 

 upon the surface, varying according to the weather from three 

 to ten days. It should also be applied just as the eggs hatch, 

 for the purpose of catching any worms that may have hatched 

 below tbc paper, althougli it is doubtful if the young worms 

 would live so long without food as it would take them to ascend 

 as far as the branches. 



It has been found that if from any neglect of using the ink 

 there are worms upon the trees about the first of June, by a 

 sudden jar of the branches they will spin down, and immedi- 

 ately start for the trunk to ascend. A fresh application of the 

 ink will then catch them. 



Where an accurate account has been kept of the material 

 used and labor performed, it has been found that the cost of 

 protecting an orchard by this method is not over ten cents per 

 tree, which is so small an espense that no one can make it an 

 excuse for allowing his orchard to be destroyed, or even a single 

 crop of a[)ples. 



Fall ploughing has been practised as a protection against the 



