328 THE COMPLETE FARMER 



black fly, which deposits its eg-gs in the leaf in the months 

 of xMay and June. They may be destroyed by means of 

 lime, sprinkled over the leaves in the form of povvJer. For 

 this purpose a wooden box of convenient size, having its 

 bottom perforated with numerous small holes, is to be filled 

 with lime. This being mounted on a pole and shaken over 

 the tree, distributes the lime among the leaves, and the slugs 

 are immediately destroyed. The labor is very trivial ; a 

 man may cover a large tree in three or four minutes ; and 

 the desired effect is certain. Fine earth shaken through a 

 basket or perforated box will answer as well. 



' Another remedy, it is said, will prove equally effectual. 

 It is a strong iafusion of tar, made by pouring water on tar, 

 and s.uffering it to stand two or three days, when it becomes 

 strongly impregnated. This, if sprinkled over the leaves by 

 means of an engine, will kill these vermin instantaneously. 

 A strong decoction of tobacco will probably produce the de- 

 sired effect, and tanner's bark put round the t-ee, it is said, 

 will have a salutary tendency as a preventive.' — Thacher's 

 Orchardist. 



Forsyth recommends watering the ground where these in- 

 sects are with soap-suds and urine, mixed with tobacco- 

 water. Ducks admitted into a garden will destroy all within 

 their reach. 



Wire-ioorm, or Red-worm. This insect is slender, and usu- 

 ally about an inch long, with a hard coat, and a pointed 

 head. Mr. William Moody, of Saco, (Maine,) in a commu- 

 nication to Hon. Josiah Quincy, published in the Massachu- 

 setts Agricultural Repository, vol. iv. p. 3-53, observes, ' I am 

 persuaded, from experience, that sea-sand, put under corn or 

 potatoes v/ith manure, or spread on the land, will go far, if 

 not wholly, to the total destruction of these destructive 

 worms, on which nothing else seems to have any effect. It 

 has a beneficial effect spread on land before ploughing, or 

 even after land is planted with corn or potatoes, not only to 

 destroy the wire-worm and other insects, but to increase the 

 crop. With my neighbors a load of sea-sand is considered 

 as preferable to a load of the best manure, to mix in with 

 their common barn manure, or to spread on their gardens 

 and low flat land.' 



Probably sea-mud or sea-water would produce good effects 

 as preservatives against this and other insects. 



Soaking seed corn in a solution of copperas in water, has 



