STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 95 



after which they come out, the sexes pair, and the females lay the 

 eggs upon the twigs of the trees, and the work of that generation 

 is done, and the moths very soon die. 



Remedies. There are three measures which I can confidently 

 recommend, whereby these insects may be held in check and the 

 trees saved from ruin : 



1. Burn all the cocoons which may be found. 



2. Search the trees carefully during the season when they are 

 bare, or in the fall and spring, for the clusters of eggs, and when 

 found, cut them oif and burn them. Do not be satisfied with any- 

 thing short of burning. 



3. As soon as any tents are observed in the orchard, they 

 should be destroyed, which may be very readily and effectually 

 done by ascending the trees by means of a ladder or otherwise, 

 and, with the hand protected by a mitten or glove, seize the tent 

 and crush it with its entire contents. This mode is effectual if it 

 be thoroughly done. It should be observed however, that since 

 the caterpillars are quite regular in taking their meals in the 

 middle of the forenoon and afternoon, their tents should be des- 

 troyed only in the morning and evening, or possibly in the middle 

 of the day, when the caterpillars are all in the tent, though if my 

 experiments upon them in confinement are to be trusted, I cannot 

 recommend the middle of the day, as there may be many strag- 

 glers away from the tent during the warm part of the day. Every 

 tent wherever found, whether on forest trees or otherwise, should 

 be destroyed." 



* " The fall web-worm or caterpillar, (Hxjphantria textor, Har- 

 ris), when full grown, is an inch in length. It pupates in a silken 

 cocoon. The pure white moth appears in July, and glues its 

 cluster of eggs to the apple leaves. In August and September 

 their unsightly webs are seen by the orchardist, and good taste 

 as well as the good of the trees, call for immediate extirpation." 



The Canker Worm — (Geometra Anisopteryx). 



The canker worm, where it prevails in Massachusetts and other 

 localities, is one of the greatest scourges. When they have be- 

 come established, and have been neglected, their ravages are 

 often very great. In June, when they become extremely vora- 

 cious, the foliage of fruit trees and noble elms is reduced to 

 withered and lifeless shreds, whole orchards looking as if they 

 had been suddenly scorched with fire. A knowledge of it and its 

 habits will enable us at once to detect it and prevent its ravages, 

 should it make its appearance among us. 



f"In the male canker-worm moth the wings are large, very 

 thin and silky, and, when the insect is at rest, the fore wings are 

 turned back, entirely cover the hind wings, and overlap on their 

 inner edges. The fore wings are ash colored, with a distinct 



* Prof. A. J. Cook. t Treatise on Insects of New England, by T. W. Harris, M. D. 



