Notes and Gleanings. 169 



he does not believe they will appear for some years to come in large num- 

 bers. 



2. Insect Enemies. — We find in insect life one insect preying upon an- 

 other. Dr. Shimer gave many interesting facts illustrating the enmity of insects 

 toward each other, enumerating the cannibal-insects, and giving the results of 

 observations of the encounters of these conflicting species. 



3. Birds. — The robin most condemned preys upon grubs and caterpillars; 

 but he will eat cherries and grapes. Jays and quails are valuable birds as prey- 

 ing upon insects. He denounced the killing of quails as the greatest injury 

 possible to the farmer. They should be protected. He said he was an.xious to 

 see a law passed to impose a hundred-dollar fine, and imprisonment to boot, upon 

 any person who would wilfully and unnecessarily kill a quail. We ought to offer 

 prizes for the protection of birds. The warblers are birds that do great service 

 by their destruction of insects. So the sparrows are useful birds ; also the fly- 

 catchers, crows, orioles, and all the birds which run in the grass. 



Dr. Shimer reviewed the artificial means to destroy insects, — such as chan- 

 ging crops, preserving birds, and fostering cannibal-insects. These are indirect 

 means. Direct means often fail us ; but there are many that will be useful to 

 employ. 



The Codling Moth. — In the East, the destruction of crops of fruit destro^-s 

 the breeding-places of these insects : so they do not develop there as they do 

 here, where our blossoms seem to endure more frost. So we have got to fight 

 them by trapping them. But one man in a neighborhood can do little. There 

 should be general co-operation. 



But counterworking insects with our hands is a small thing compared with 

 what we may do by properly applying natural agencies. 



Dr. Shimer's lecture was listened to with marked attention, and heartily 

 applauded. 



At the morning session of the second day, — 



Blackberries were up for consideration. Many members had had unfa- 

 vorable experience in blackberry-culture. Kittatinny and Lawton ranked 

 highest. 



Mr. Plumb of Wisconsin said their State Horticultural Society had voted 

 the Lawton a nuisance for two years. Occasionally it had succeeded in certain 

 localities. He thought the secret of cultivation lay in mulching, shade, and 

 protection. 



Kitchen-Garden Culture. — An essay was read by Jonathan Perriam, 

 superintendent of the farm of the Illinois Industrial University, on " Kitchen- 

 garden Culture," — a practical essay by a practical man, too long to give even 

 a synopsis of it here. The thanks of the society were tendered to Mr. Perriam. 

 ']"he essay will soon be published in the transactions of the society. 



Cherries. — An essay was read by the secretary, from James F. Lester of 

 McHenry County, on the culture of the cherry. The points in the lecture were, 

 that it was most essential the buds should go through the winter safely. The 

 buds of Heart varieties do not : neither do the buds of the Early May and Eng- 

 lish Morello when grafted on the Mahaleb stock ; but, when worked on the 



