48 



ularly the Canker Worm,) and also to the drought of the two 

 last seasons. 



The Essex Society have, for the last few years, generously 

 offered a premium for a cheap and effectual remedy for the 

 ravages of the Canker Worm ; and while we have patiently 

 waited to see what ingenuity might invent, or wisdom devise, 

 the Canker Worms have kept steadily at work, and nearly prov- 

 ed the destruction of some of our finest orchards. In former 

 times their ravages have generally been limited to a term of 

 three or four years, but this time they have already gone be- 

 yond that term, even to five or six years. To be sure, last 

 spring they were not as numerous as before, but it becomes us 

 all, every one, who own apple trees, to do something at once 

 for their destruction. We would say, then, emphatically, pro- 

 tect your trees — and what are not worth protecting, cut down. 

 There are thousands of old apple trees in pastures and by road- 

 sides, in this county, which will never do credit to any one, 

 and the sooner they are cut down the better ; all they will do 

 during their protracted lives, will be to feed Caterpillars,, 

 Canker Worms, Borers, etc. The same might apply to nu- 

 merous wild cherry trees, which annually bear heavy crops of 

 Caterpillars, to attack apple trees the next season. None of 

 these insects are very formidable, except the Canker Worm ; 

 and to destroy this, many use troughs filled with oil, or tin 

 protectors; others object to these on account o^ t\ie expense 

 and care, which it is necessary to use. Others still go back 

 to the old fashioned remedy of tar — but from numerous in- 

 quiries and observation, we are inclined to think that printers' 

 ink is as effectual, and not near as expensive as tar. Those 

 who have used it with success, moisten it with oil, and apply 

 with a brush, the same as with tar, being careful to protect 

 the trees with tarred paper, or something else of that nature. 

 The advantages over tar are, that it is less expensive, and does 

 not need to be applied oftener than once in two or three 

 weeks. Next, we would advise very shallow ploughing for 

 orchards — (late in autumn would be preferable) — manure 



