126 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



take a small brass wire with a hook or beard on one end ; on 

 examining the tree you soon learn where he is by the chips at 

 the base ; these removed and the wire sent up after him will, in 

 nine cases out of ten, bring him out. The caterpillar is very 

 easily disposed of with the hands and brush. The canker-worm, 

 which is the most troublesome of all, requires more careful at- 

 tention. There have been various means used to prevent the 

 female from going up the tree and depositing her eggs. The 

 only preventive that I have seen tried, that will accomplish 

 the object, is tar. My way of applying it is this : Take a strip 

 of tarred paper four or five inches wide, and fasten closely 

 around the body of the tree, then apply the tar. The tar 

 should be as thin as may be, without running. It will very 

 readily be seen that when they attempt to go over they are 

 caught at once, as they cannot fly. When it should be done 

 is quite important. A few go up after the first hard frosts in 

 the fall, but most of them as soon as the frost comes out in 

 the spring. The trees must be examined at both seasons, and 

 if they are found to be on the move, then commence to tar, and 

 continue to do so as long as there is any to be caught. Just at 

 night is the best time to apply it, as they go up more at that 

 time. Don't let the tar get dry if you have to apply it more 

 than once a day. The expense is a mere trifle. The price of 

 apples for the last three years will warrant a little extra exer- 

 tion, at least to rid ourselves of these troublesome pests. 



S. F. HosMER, Chairman. 



NORFOLK. 



From the Report of the Commiltee. 



On invitation of David Shaw, Esq., of Foxborough, received 

 through the secretary, September 7, the Committee proceeded 

 to Foxborough, September 14, for the purpose of examining the 

 apple orchard of Mr. Shaw, entered for the society's premium. 



The orchard embraces about one hundred trees, occupying 

 two acres of land. The trees were obtained from a nursery in 

 Sherborn, Mass., Mr. Shaw thinking them better adapted to his 

 grounds and exposure than those raised in a more southern 

 locality. Fifty of them, divided equally between Baldwins, 

 Greenings and Russets, the portion especially entered for pre- 



