and protected from the weather by a coating of glutinous 

 matter. The young caterpillars commence spinning the 

 moment they are born ; and, indeed, they never move with- 

 out extending their thread wherever they go. All the indi- 

 viduals hatched from the same batch of eggs work together 

 in harmony, and each performs its share of building the 

 common tent, under which they shelter when not feeding 

 and during inclement weather. The small, bright and glis- 

 tening web, if unmolested, is soon enlarged until it spreads 

 over whole branches, and the caterpillars, which were the 

 architects, in time become moths, and they lay their eggs for 

 an increased supply of nests another year. No insect is 

 more readily kept in subjection than this. Cut off and burn 

 the egg-clusters during winter, and examine the trees care- 

 fully in the spring for the nests from such clusters as may 

 have eluded the winter search. The es^s are best seen in a 

 dull day in winter, when they show distinctly against the 

 sky. Though to kill the caterpillars numerous methods 

 have been resorted to, such as burning, and swabbing with 

 oil, soap suds, lye, etc., they are all unnecessary; for the 

 nests should not be allowed to get large, and if taken when 

 small, are most easily and effectually destroyed by going over 

 the orchard with the fruit-ladder, and by the use of gloved 

 hands. As the caterpillars feed twice a day, once in the 

 forenoon and once in the afternoon, and as they are almost 

 always in their nests till after 9 a.m., and late in the evening, 

 the early and late hours of the day are the best in which to 

 perform the operation." 



Good farm help appears to be rather scarce in many locali- 

 ties, and commands on an average from twenty to twenty-two 

 dollars per month, and board. The general outlook is good. 

 There is promise of a large hay crop, although the dry 

 weather the fore part of May checked the growth of grass 

 in some places. This dry weather was very favorable for 

 planting, and the seeds came up well. The wet, cold 

 weather of the last of the month, while it has greatly helped 

 grass, has had a bad effect on corn. In the table will be 

 found figures showing the average acreage and condition of 

 such crops as are most generally grown. On the last pages 

 will be found an admirable paper by the chief of the Bureau 



