AND RURAL ECONOMIST. 319 



the fall, early in the spring, or, sometimes, during a period 

 of mild, open weather in winter. Those which rise in 

 autumn or in winter are less r.umerous than those which as- 

 cend in spring ; but, being v^ry prolific, they do much inju- 

 ry. One method of preventing the ravages of the worm is 

 to bar the ascent of the females up the stem of the tree. 

 This has generally been attempted by tarring, of which 

 there are several modifications : 



1. A strip of linen or canvas is put round the body of 

 the tree, before the females begin their ascent, and well 

 smeared with tar. The insects, in attempting to pass this 

 barrier, stick fast and perish. But this process, to complete 

 the desired effect, must be commenced about the first of No- 

 vember, and the tariing continued when the weather is mild 

 enough to permit the worms to emerge from the ground, till 

 the latter end of May, or till the time of their ascent is past. 

 It is necessary to fill the crevices in the bark with clay mor- 

 tar, before the strip of linen or canvas is put on, that the 

 insects may not pass under it. Having put on the strip, 

 which should be at least three inches wide, draw it close, 

 fasten the ends together strongly, then tie a thumb-rope of 

 tow round the tree, close to the lower edge of the strip. 

 The design of this is to prevent the tar from running down 

 the bark of the tree, which would injure it. It should be 

 renewed in moderate weather, once a day, without fail. The 

 best time is soon after sunset, because the insects are wont 

 to pass up in the evening, and the tar will not harden so much 

 in the night as the day. 



2. Another mode of tarring is to take two pretty wide 

 pieces of board, plane them, make semicircular notches in 

 each, fitting them to the stem or body of the tree, and 

 fasten them together securely at the ends, so that the most 

 violent storms may not displace them. The crevices betwixt 

 the boards and the tree may be easily stopped with rags or 

 tow ; then smear the under sides of the boards with tar. 

 The tar, being defended from the direct rays of the sun, will 

 hold its tenacity the longer, and, therefore, need not be fre- 

 quently renewed. The trees in this way will be less liable 

 to be injured by the drippings of tar by leaving a margin of 

 two or three inches on those parts of the boards which are 

 next to the trees, to which no tar is applied. 



3. A gentleman informs us, that in Plymouth, Massachu- 

 setts, they make use of the following mixture as a substitute 

 for tar in preserving fruit-trees against canker-worms, viz. : 



