1 30 DA VET'S PRIMER 



There are not many questions before the American 

 people to-day of greater importance than that of pro- 

 tecting our trees from the ravages of insects. What 

 was said in reference to the canker work can convey 

 no idea of the heart-sickening sight. Just imagine the 

 sight of great oaks and elms and maples, and wild 

 cherries, in fact, nearly all kinds of trees, being 

 stripped of their leaves, right* in the hot days of May! 

 Think of miles of woodlands thus scourged ; and then 

 think of whole orchards of fruit trees, and think of 

 the impossibility of "spraying" such areas. Is it not 

 time that all boys and girls were joining the Audubon 

 Society, and that from Maine to California a great 

 movement should arise to restore the native birds in 

 sufficient numbers to help us keep down the destructive 

 insect pests with which we are entirely unable to cope? 



Mr. Alex. Laughlin, of Sewickley, Pa., has acted 

 upon a suggestion, and had a "moat" put around an 

 apple tree as an experiment. The female canker 

 worm is wingless, and has to crawl up the trunk of 

 the tree before she can lay her eggs. This arrange- 

 ment is built of cement, and a little moat is made to 

 be kept full of water. But care should be used not to 

 have grass or sticks spanning the moat, or they will use 

 them for bridges, and if there should be a leaf sailing 

 around they will use it as a canoe. 



