65 



so large an amount of insects. I say, then, Increase the fruit 

 and supply the birds, spare them and save the orchards. 



The process of tarring the trees requires much care and 

 labor. I well remember, when a boy, assisting in tarring my 

 father's orchard. The process, as then practiced, was nearly 

 as follows : Tar and blubber were used, in nearly equal pro- 

 portions, and applied when warm and late in the afternoon, as 

 the insects go up the trees early in the evening. Sometimes 

 they pass up the trees in warm weather, late in autumn, but 

 the most of them go up in early spring, soon after the frost is 

 out of the ground. The process must be renewed every day, 

 otherwise the tar gets hard, and the grubs pass over. Much 

 care and experience is necessary to judge correctly whether 

 they will run or not, the expression used to be. As I have 

 before said, they go up the trees only in warm evenings, hence, 

 if a person cannot judge somewhat correctly, they will some- 

 times tar when unnecessary, and at other times omit it when 

 necessary, as they do not run every evening after they com- 

 mence, but depend on the weather. Therefore it requires 

 more care and labor than it otherwise would. 



I recollect too that various remedies were formerly used, but 

 nothing proved effectual except tarring and that but partially. 

 The apple tree protector, as it is called, has of late been 

 used to some extent, and it is said with good success. But it 

 is somewhat expensive to be used on large orchards, and 

 further, it is said that the grubs will deposit their eggs on the 

 bark of the tree or something else, and if care is not used to 

 destroy them, the eggs will hatch and the smaller worms will 

 pass up the tree and nothing will prevent. 



Another method has been adopted which is said to be effec- 

 tual, which is placing coal tar, or oil, in a groove or trough 

 around the tree. This is attended with considerable expense 

 and requires much care, as the wind will blow out the oil and 

 blow in leaves ; also the grooves will be filled with rain. An 

 article has been recently published in the papers, recommend- 

 ing printers' ink, to be used instead of tar around the trees, as 

 9 



