626 Transactions of the American Institute. 



bj oxidizing, affects the organic matter and thereby changes, some- 

 times in little more tlian two months, into what is well known as 

 Chili saltpeter, a most valuable mineral manure, by virtue of the 

 nitrous and phosphoric acids it contains. Without the salt this pro- 

 cess would likewise take place, but it would require very much more 

 time. 



The Codling Moth. 



Mr. G. N. Smith, Berlin, "Wis., forwarded the subjoined account 

 of personal experience with this insect enemy. In the meuth of 

 July, 1868, I accidentally discovered that the miller known as the 

 codling moth had a great liking for vinegar, and I accordingly took 

 measures to test the thing by hanging on some of the trees open- 

 mouthed vessels, and putting in them some of the fluid diluted. The 

 first night proved it to be a perfect success, for in some of the dishes 

 I caught in each from ten to twenty of the millers. At that time the 

 millers were so numerous that I expected they would entirely destroy 

 my whole crop of fruit, as it had thus early began to drop from the 

 effects of their work, but so attractive to them was the vinegar that 

 they took to it rather than the apples, and the result was that what 

 fruit I gathered for the winter was entirely usaffected by the worm. 

 I estimate by thousands tlie number of millers I caught that season. 

 The past summer I commenced operations, say about the middle of 

 June, in the following manner : I obtained as many empty oyster 

 ■cans as I have trees — the cans in our western towns are plenty and 

 cost nothing — I cut them in two in the middle, flared the sides to 

 the lower part, and ])ut in a wire bail; to the bail I attached a wire 

 to hook on to a twig or limb of the tree. Of the upper part of the 

 •can I used enough to make a roof or covering to keep out the rain, 

 made a hole through the centre, and strung it on the wire ; then put 

 in the cans cider vinegar, somewhat diluted, sufficient to have it an 

 inch or two deep, and hung them near the centre of the tree. The 

 millers did not make their appearance until about the middle of 

 July, which I attribute to the very cool weather up to that time ; 

 and then the vinegar being ready for them, they went for it. The 

 result was I had them, and continued to have them, although they 

 wore not as numerous as they were the year previous throughout the 

 season. My fruit is almost entirely free from the worm, as I am not 

 aware of having a score of apples affected the present season. 



The Chairman. — It is certainly easy enough to test this prescrip- 

 tion. 



