89 



inches wide, (a year old is best) and taek it around the body 

 of the tree, after scraping off the roughest of the loose bark, 

 and filling up any irregularities of the tree with cotton batting 

 or tow. The paper should be put Avithin one or two feet of 

 the ground, to prevent cattle from rubbing off the ink and 

 smearing themselves (as they Avill if they have the opportun- 

 ity), and also to keep the female grubs as low down as possi- 

 ble ; for they will often when finding the obstruction of the 

 ink, back down, and after a time deposit their eggs below, 

 even without impregnation. Instinct teaches the males to seek 

 their mates higher up tlie tree in order to ha-\e the eggs depos- 

 ited near where the young will find tlieir food. The best qual- 

 ity of ink should be used, as it remains sticky longer than the 

 cheaper preparations offered for that purpose, some of Avhich 

 iire worthless . 



The ink should bo applied A\-itli a l)rush, near the to}) of tlic 

 pa})er, so that it may not nm down u})on the l)ark of the tree, 

 which causes injurv to it ])y attracting an mmatural amount of 

 licat from the sun. In some instances Avhere the ink has been 

 used Avithout any paper, the tree has been killed. The pa})cr 

 should be removed from the tree after the season is oAcr, as it 

 it makes a harbor for Aarious other kinds of insects during the 

 summer months. 



It is contended by many tliat the Qggfi deposited in the au- 

 tumn never hatch, and therefore it is useless to apply the ink 

 imtil spring; but it is known that many, if not all, such do 

 liatch, and therefore, in order to have it effectual, it is neccs- 

 sar\' to commence in the fall and apply the ink as often as it 

 dries upon the surface, varying according to the Aveather from 

 three to ten days. It should also l)e applied just as the eggf^ 

 hatch for the purpose of catching any Avorms that may have 

 hatched beloAv the paper, although it is doul)tful if the young 

 worms Avould live so lonji' Avithout food as it Avould take them 

 to ascend as far as the branches. 



It has been found that if from any neglect of using the ink 

 there are Avorms upon the trees al)out the first of June, by a 



