THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[January, 



mother, and eacli got a worm ; then lliey 

 brought their friends, until the pail was black 

 with them. The carrying off of those in the 

 pail, however, was not so much what we 

 wanted as those on the bushes, so we removed 

 it. We have looked for worms since, but have 

 found none, and are satisfied that the ants 

 take care of them. 



There is no patent on this, Mr. Editor, and 

 .anyone is at liberty to try it if they choose ; 

 for our part we prefer it to the time and ex- 

 pense of using" the various lotions recom- 

 mended, to say nothing about the danger of 

 using some of them. With .ants for currant 

 worms, hens for potatoe bugs, and turkeys 

 for grasshoppers, we see no reason why we 

 cannot be prosperous. 



Good, perhaps, so far as it goes, but a feeble 

 read to lean on. Suppose we have a hundred, or 

 a thousand infested currant bushes and a few 

 ornoantsV How then? Does the writer intend 

 to suggest their colonizationV 



IMPERIAL WALNUT MOTH. 



The magnilicient, horned, green worm, sub- 

 mitted to our inspection, is the larva of the 

 •'Imperial Walnut Moth," (Dryommpa im- 

 ijerialis) and its food is the foliage of the com- 

 mon walnut tree {Juglans nigra). It has un- 

 dergone its last moulting and is now ready to 

 bury itself in the ground and be transformed 

 to a black chrysalis, where it will remain until 

 next spring, when the walnut is in foliage, 

 when it will evolve from its pupal sleep, as a 

 most magnificent moth, with reddish-brown 

 and orange colors, and expanding about six 

 inches from "tip to tip" of the front or an- 

 terior wings. 



This larva (before us) measures five inches 

 in length and three inches in circumference ; 

 dark green in color ; an orange colored head 

 and caudal prolegs, with pectoral feet of the 

 same color. The prolegs are all black and 

 there are six black spines arranged transverse- 

 ly on each segment of the whole body. The 

 spines on the three anterior segments are 

 orange colored at the base and lower half, and 

 four of those on the second and third seg- 

 ments, are from a half to three-quarters of an 

 inch long, and slightly bent like the horns of 

 an antelope, and on the whole it presents a 

 very formidable appearance. There are also 

 two large Ijlack spots or maeulations between 

 the second and the third segments. We have 

 known of this insect for a very long time. 

 Nearly sixty years ago one fell from a walnut 

 tree, under which we and a number of boys 

 were resting, and produced a great consterna- 

 tion among us. We, however^ gathered suffl- 

 cient courage to capture him and convey him 

 into the town, where he was a seven-days' 

 wonder. 



We have never known the walnut moth to 

 become numerous, and they confine them- 

 selves entirely to the different kinds of wal- 

 nut. They are difMcult to raise, and we never, 

 but once, succeeded in producing the moth, 

 but often failed.— ifuicasfei-, Sept. 1, 1878. 



"COLD SNAP." 

 The very cold weather which has thus far 

 accompanied the incoming New Year, has 

 been pretty general throughout the northern 

 region of our country, and has even extended 

 far down into the southern region. In Lan- 

 caster county tlie thermometer was "boxing 

 about" somewhere between /rmr nud ticdi-c 

 degrees below zero ,• but this was nothing to 

 the markings between sixteen and sMy which 

 it made in the British possessions, on the 

 north of our territory. Cold weather, how- 

 ever unfriendly it may be to some people, has 

 yet its compensations ; and the whole, vegeta- 

 tion—and, perhaps, also the human family- 

 suffers, generally, less from extreme cold than 

 it does from extreme heat. January may be 

 regarded as a precarious month ; because, 

 vegetation revived during that month, is very 

 certain to be overtaken by a "cold snap" be- 

 fore the opening spring. This may, also, be 

 the case if such a contingency occurs during 

 February or March, but it is sure to follow 

 the germinations of January. Cold weather 



secures that perfect repose of the vegetable 

 world whicli is so necessary in our latitude to 

 secure its uninterrupted and vigorous activity 

 after the cold season has subsided. We want 

 cold weather for at least two months to come. 



ABOUT EELS. 



I have witnessed the spring migration of 

 eels, from one and a half to three inches long, 

 up the Susquehanna river, in countless thous- 

 ands, (perhaps millions). Has any other 

 individual residing along that stream, or else- 

 where, witnessed a similar phenomenon ? I 

 make this inquiry because in nearly all I read 

 upon the subject of eels (that has recently 

 been published) that characteristic has been 

 but incidentally and vaguely alluded to ; or, 

 if more distinctly stated, it has not been from 

 the writer's own personal observation. 



Any information on this subject, together 

 with dates, localities and special circum- 

 stances will be thankfully received by S. S. 

 Batlivon, 101 N. Queen street, Lancader, Pa. 



URANINE. 



This is the most recently discovered, and perhaps 

 the most remarkable, of all the coal tar or aniline 

 group of coloring substances, now so extensively 

 used for the adornment of the finest fabrics. Uranine 

 is said, by chemists, to be the most higlily Horescenc 

 body known to science. Its coloring power is aston- 

 ishing ; a single grain will impart a marked color to 

 nearly Ave hundred gallons of water. 



A most interesting experiment, which anybody 

 may try, consists in sprinkling a few atoms of Ura- 

 nine upon the surface of water in a glass tumbler. 

 Each atom immediately sends down through tlie 

 water what appears to be a bright green rootlet, 

 and the tumbler soon loohs as if it were crowded 

 full of beautiful plants. Tlie rootlets now begin to 

 enlarge, spread and combine, until we have a mass 

 of soft green-colored liquid. Viewed by trusmitted 

 light the color changes to a bright golden or amber 

 hue ; while a combination of greeirand gold will be 

 realized, according to the jiosition in which the glass 

 is held. For day or evening experiment nothing can 

 be prettier than these trials of Uranine, which are 

 especially entertaining for the young folks. We are 

 indebted for examples of the color to the editors of 

 the •Seieiitiflc American, who are sending out speci- 

 mens, free of charge, to all their readers. The sub- 

 scription to the paper is S'!.20 for a year, or §1.00 

 half year : and a better investment for the money 

 could hardly be named. 



PENNSYLVANIA FRUIT GROWERS' 

 SOCIETY. 



The twentieth annual meeting of this so- 

 ciety will be held in '-Alder Hall," near Court 

 House, Reading, Pa., commencing, January 

 15th, 1879, at 2 o'clock, p.m., and continuing 

 over Thursday 16th. 



A cordial invitation is extended to fruit 

 growers, horticulturists, both amateur and 

 professional, and all others wlio feel interested 

 in the discussion of these and kindred topics, 

 to meet with us and give results and benefit 

 of their experience. We also invite such as 

 feel interested in the welfare of our society to 

 become members thereof and thus aid in ex- 

 tending its influence and usefulness more 

 generally throughout the State. The object 

 of our organization was to gather and sy tema- 

 tize pomological and horticultural knowledge 

 and disseminate the same for the benefit of all 

 engaged in similar pursuits. The pubhshed 

 reports of the society, which are issued annu- 

 ally, free to all members, form a valuable 

 library for reference and are well worth the 

 fee of membership. 



"lilishler's Hotel" will board members and 

 delegates at .11.50 per day, including free 

 transportation from and to the depot. It may, 

 therefore, be considered head(iuarters for the 

 society. 



Excursion tickets will be issued by the 

 Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company 

 from the following stations, on January 14th 

 and 15th, good until Saturday 18th, inclu- 

 sive : Philadelphia, AVilliamsport, Harrisburg, 

 Lancaster, Allen town, Cattavvissa, Norris- 

 town, Columbia, Lebanon, Down ingtown and 

 Litiz. The Willmington & Northern Railroad 

 Company will al.so issue excursion tickets 

 from Waynesburg Junction, Coatesville and 

 Chadd's Ford, oii the 15th and IGth, and good 

 until the 18th, 



Persons having new varieties of fruits, or 



any fine specimens of fruits, flowers or vege- 

 tables, or any improved horticultural imple- 

 ments in their possession, arc respectfully 

 requested to exhibit them at the i^eeting. 

 Articles intended for exhibition may be sent 

 to E. B. Engle, Secretary, Mishler's Hotel, 

 Reading, Pa. 



In again convening the members of this 

 society the officers are happy to announce that 

 an unusually full and interesting meeting may 

 be expected. Some of the leading horticul- 

 turists of the State have promised to meet 

 and address the society upon interesting and 

 appropriate horticultural subjects. 

 Essays and Addresses. 



"Disease of the Pear," by E. Satterthwait, 

 Jenkintown, Pa. 



"Modern Fruit H, uses," by Hon. Geo. D. 

 Stitzel, Reading, Pa. 



"Profit and Pleasure in Gardening," by 

 Tlios. Meehan, editor Gardeners'' Monthly, 

 Germantown, Pa. 



"Sewage— How to utilize the same, its ap- 

 plication to Fruit Growing, and how to obtain 

 best results," by A. R. Sprout, Picture 

 Rocks, Pa. 



'•Uses and Abuses of Pruning," by Presi- 

 dent Calder, State College, Pa. 



"Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies,) of 

 North America," by Herman Strecker, of 

 Reading, Pa. 



"Culture and Training of the Vine,'' by H. 

 M. Engle, Marietta, Pa'. 



"Mulching and its Benefits," by Alexander 

 Burnett, Reading, Pa. 



Mr. Casper Ililler, of Conestoga, Pa., has 

 also promised a paper, subject not yet an- 

 nounced ; and several other prominent horti- 

 culturists are expected to prepare articles, but 

 have not yet responded. 



Committees for 1878. 



General Fruit Committee.— John I. Carter, 

 Chester county, chairman; Casper Ililler, 

 Lancaster county; Morgan Rufe, Bucks 

 county; A. R. Sprout, Lycoming county; S. 

 W. Nu'ole. Montgomery county; E. J. Evans, 

 York county; G. II. Small, Dauphin county; 

 A. S. ShelleV, Union county; AV. L. Shaeffer, 

 Philadelphia; J. Murdoch, sr., Allegheny 

 county; II. S. Rupp, Cumberland county; G. 



D. Stitzel, Berks comity; II. Leh, jr., Lehigh 

 county; Jos. Lewis, jr., Delaware county; 

 Rev. James Calder, Centre county; Jacob 

 Ileyser, Franklin coimty; W. M. Pannebaker, 

 Mifflin county. 



Committee on Orcharels.—'E. Satterthwait, 

 Montgomery county, chairman; W. S. Bissell, 

 Philadelphia; J. G. Engle, Lancaster county; 



E. II. Cocklin, Cumberland county; T. M. 

 Harvey, Chester county. 



Committee on Nomenclature.— 11. M. Engle, 

 Lancaster county, chairman; Calvin Cooper, 

 Lancaster county; J. H. Bartram, Chester 

 county; A. W. Harrison, Philadelphia; J. AV. 

 Pyle, Chester county. 



Committee on Floriculture.— Chas. H. Miller, 

 Philadelphia, chairman; Thomas Meehan, 

 Germantown; Peter C. Ililler, Lancaster 

 county; H. S. Rupp, Cumberland county; S. 

 H. Purple, Lancaster county. 



Committee on Arboriculture.— Geo. Achelis, 

 Chester county, chairman; D. G. Engle, Lan- 

 caster county; H. A. Chase, Philadelphia; G. 

 II. Small, Dauphin county; Wm. Hacker, 

 Philadelphia. 



Committee on Insects.— S. S. Rathvon, Lan- 

 caster coimty, chairman; J. S. Stauffer, Lan- 

 caster county; Herman Strecher, Berks county. 



Committee on Arraw/ement and Reception.— 

 Geo. D. Stitzel, Berks county, chairman; J. 

 L. Stichter, Berks county; P. C. Ililler, Lan- 

 caster county; E. B. Engle, Lancaster county. | 

 Officers of the Society. 



Prcsidext.—Josinh Iloopes, West Chester. 



Virc Presidents.— II. M. Engle, Marietta; 

 A. II. Sprout, Picture Rocks; John I. Carter, 

 West Grove. 



liccording Secretary.— H. B. Engle, Maiietta. 



Corrcs)wv.d:ng Secretary.— W. P. Brinton, 

 Christiana. 



'Treasurer. — Geo. B. Thomas, West Chester. 



Professor of i?o(an!/.—Thos. Meehan, Ger- 

 mantown, 



