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were good, and every season shows how well they are 

 appreciated, by the increased interest and attendance at 

 them, where the practical knowledge, by personal ex- 

 perience, of those who take part in them are of great 

 value to others. 



The 53d Institute was held Dec. 13, 1887, at the Town 

 Hall, Bradford, to listen to a carefully prepared and in- 

 structive paper, by T. C. Thurlow of West Newbury, upon 

 "Insects Injurious to Vegetation, especially to Farm 

 Crops." Insects, he said, increase as civilization advan- 

 ces. In Missouri, a quarter of a century ago, not a wormy 

 apple was seen ; now they are more wormy than here. 

 In Northern Illinois the codling moth is almost beyond 

 control. In California insect pests are numerous, where 

 they were unknown a few years ago. He uses, with 

 good effect in destroying the tent caterpillar, the old 

 fashioned way of a conical brush on a pole, just after 

 hatching, early in the morning or when rainy. His result 

 was a good crop of apples last year. The green aphis is 

 destroyed by sponging or dipping the ends where thev 

 congregate in strong soap suds. Horse manure which 

 has been used for mulching during the winter, when raked 

 off in the spring, creates a smell that attracts the June 

 Bug Beetles, who filled his heap with countless small 

 grubs which he took to his poultry to dispose of. Birds, 

 he said, are the natural enemies of the insect pests, and 

 are fast disappearing, and in losing the robin, bobolink, 

 thrush, and others of our common, native birds we are 

 losing some of the greatest attractions, as well as benefits 

 to rural life. We need a national law to protect our na- 

 tive birds, for no state laws can efficiently do the work 

 for saving migratory birds. 



President Ware destroys canker worms and codling 

 moths witli Paris Green and explained his method. Hon. 

 Joseph How of Methuen, spoke of his experiences ill 

 contending with the enemies of the apple. 



Before the afternoon meeting a visit was made by some 

 to the stock* farm of Col. Harry H. Hale, where some 



