87 



CANKER WORM. 



The Committee ou tlie Destruction of the Canker Worm, 

 respectfully report, that there has been but one entry for the 

 Society's premium of $100 offered for a new, cheap, and ef- 

 fectual protection against the ravages of that destroyer of the 

 orchardist's hopes. It is presumed that the Society expects a 

 better, cheaper, and more effectual method of protection, than 

 is now known, in order to entitle the claimant to the award. 



That now offered by Mr. A. P. Noyes, of Middleton, is an 

 arrangement of prepared hair cloth, invented by Mr. Charles 

 P. Johnson. 



Mr. Noyes applied this invention to some trees of one of the 

 Committee, at an average cost of fifty cents per tree, in order 

 to test its value as a protection against the grub of the canker 

 worm. By putting a strip of tarred paper, with printers' ink 

 upon it, above the hair cloth, it has been found that they pass- 

 ed through or over it and were caught by the ink, thereby 

 proving the worthlessnsss of that invention. 



The canker Avorm, that has been so destructive to the apple 

 Hirchards in New England, has been closely observed, and its 

 habits have been studied by your Committee, and others, in 

 order to protect themselves from its ravages. It has been no- 

 ticed, that the grub commences breaking forth from its chrys- 

 alis form, after the first freeze, usually about the first of No- 

 vember. The females, which are wingless, proceed directly 

 from the ground to the trunk of the tree, and commence their 

 -ascent. They continue coming from the ground, as the frost 

 will permit, until April ; generally in greater numbers in the 

 Spring than in the Autumn, The males, which have wings, 

 are more tardy in making their appearance ; and the proportion 

 of males (never so numerous as the females), is much greater 

 in the Spring. The female, having broken ground, ascends 

 the tree more or less rapidly, according as the weather is mild : 

 being benumbed [and [motionless in cold nights and days, but 

 ready for a fresh start ujiward in a a\ arm day. The males arc 



