99 



which d large premium would lead some one to trace to theii" 

 origin, and, if worthy, procure grafts therefrom? 



There are other enemies of the apple to contend with, 

 which we think are worse than those above named. We 

 mean the insects in the tree and in the apple. They are not 

 in some respects uulike some of the human species. They 

 work in the dark, and cannot be effectually met. The canker 

 worm find caterpillar can with care and labor be destroyed. 

 But what can Ave do with the borer? One says, dig them 

 Out ; another says, we wash the trees and destroy their eggs. 

 This may be done to some extent in small orchards of young 

 trees, but to destroy them in large orchards of large trees is 

 much easier said than done. We believe the borer is doinsr 

 much more damage in our orchards than is generally supposed. 

 They not only perforate the body of the tree, but the branch- 

 es also, which causes premature decay. 



There are now many difficulties to contend with that did 

 not formerly exist. The canker worm and caterpillar existed 

 then as now. The canker worm ravao-ed the orchards in the 

 latter part of the last century, and were killed by a late frost, 

 and the apples were also killed at the same time ; and it was 

 said that the loss of the apples was not considered a calamity, 

 as the destruction of the worms more than balanced the loss 

 of the apples. They appeared again in the early part of the 

 present century. Many remedies were applied for their de- 

 struction, but nothing proved effectual, except tarring the 

 trees. We well remember assisting in tarring our father's 

 trees. The custom then was to mix blubber with the tar, 

 heat it, and apj^ly it warm every day late in the afternoon, 

 which proved effectual. We think if ink were applied every 

 day, as we then applied tar, it would be more effectual, as 

 we have seen the insects passing over the ink the second even- 

 ing without trouble. . 



We think the destruction of birds has had much to do with 

 the increase of insects, as many kinds of birds live mostly on 

 them. 



