TWELVE] OUR RIVAL S-THE INSECTS 



as fast as they appear. Fortunately for us, the 

 forest worm very soon finds its parasitic enemies, 

 or it would absolutely overwhelm us with its multi- 

 tude. The tent caterpillar also has its insect ene- 

 mies, so that it is very migratory in its appearance. 

 Neither of these pests are generally found more 

 than two years in succession in the same locality, 

 at least in force. There must be no dallying with 

 them, however, for if allowed to get well in- 

 trenched they will devour our orchards and 

 even our lawn trees inside of two weeks. Not 

 only is our fruit crop destroyed, but the trees are 

 so devitalized by two years of feeding that 

 many of them will die outright. I have seen 

 large belts of forest trees killed by forest worms 

 as if by fire. 



Canker worms, or, as they are generally called, 

 "measuring worms," are of two kinds, the spring- 

 feeders and the autumn-feeders. The early sort 

 must be shaken from the trees, and bands of tarred 

 cotton put about the trunks to prevent their climb- 

 ing up again. As a rule, our winter birds will take 

 care of the late brood, if they are encouraged. Cut 

 worms are not often on hand in serious numbers, 

 but when they are wind your trees with cotton bat- 



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