64 



for several years for a new, cheap and effectual remedy for the 

 ravages of the canker -vvorms, hoping, in this day of improve- 

 ment, that some plan would be devised for their destruction, 

 easier and cheaper than tarring the trees. 



No application has yet been made for the premium. Tar- 

 ring the trees has been the most effectual method of destroying 

 them, and has been practiced more or less for a long time. 



In the latter part of the last century the canker worms 

 ravaged the orchards in the north part of the county and I 

 have been informed that tarring was then practiced. A late 

 hard frost destroyed the worms and also destroyed nearly all 

 the apples. A few apples, however, escaped on high land. 



Early in the present century the worms agai i appeared and 

 were again destroyed by a frost in the cold season of 1816. 

 vSince that time, they have not prevailed in the north part of 

 the county, until within ten or twelve years. When they first 

 appeared, I was somewhat alarmed, knowing their destructive 

 nature, but a kind Providence ordained as they increased, the 

 cherry bird (as they are called) appeared and destroyed them. 

 One year in particular the worms were so plenty I feared my 

 orchard would be seriously injured. The blids soon appeared 

 like flocks of black birds, in early spring, and fortunately 

 saved it from destruction. Every season since w^e have had 

 more or less worms, but the birds have appeared in sufficient 

 numbers to destroy them to such an extent that my orchard 

 has received but Uttle injury. 



One word in favor of the birds. Spare them. A neighbor 

 remarked to me last summer, "the cherry birds have been 

 eatino- my cherries and I have caused many of them to be 

 killed " A gentleman also said to me that he shot a robin 

 which had canker worms in its mouth. He further said he 

 thouc^ht he never should shoot another. 1 was not a little 

 surprised afterward at seeing the skeletons of two robins hang- 

 ino- in the same gentleman's grapery, which were killed, as he 

 said, for eating some of his fine Delawares. Now it is not 

 strange that the birds should like fruit as a dessert, after eating 



