98 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



shrubs ill myriads ; they do not take time to buihl webs, but appear to be 

 continuall^'^ ' marching on,' and, in inany respects, resemble the ravages of 

 the army worm wliich I witnessed a few years ago in the West. Tliey are 

 entirely destroying my crop of grapes, by eating off" the stems and letting 

 them fall. I conunenced cutting off br'inches and loaves as fast as possi- 

 ble, in order to defeat them, but their reenforcements entirely outflanked 

 me. I next applied air-slacked lime, but all to no purpose. Does the club 

 know of any remedy?" 



The club docs not kntnv of any remedy. The same pest has made its 

 appearance in this vicinity this year in countless numbers. 



A New Strawberry. 



Mr. Traver also mentions a new strawberry called the Ida, originated 

 by Mr. Cockling, of York county. Pa., which, after a test of several years, 

 promises to be a valuable acquisition to the list. " It is a strong grower, 

 wonderfully productive and very hardy. The berry is of medium size, 

 beautiful scarlet color, round and smooth, uniform in size, good flavor, 

 ■bears high up, and is hard enough for transportation. I wish some mem- 

 bers of the club to test it, as I wish it to stand or fall upon its own merit. 

 J will send a few plants to any person that the club may designate, free of 

 'charge, as soon as the season for transportation arrives." 



We will suggest the name of Wm. S. Carpenter, as the proper recipient 

 .of the plants, as he has tested more varieties than any other amateur 

 member of the club. 



Aftermath. 



"An old-style farmer" asks the " opinion of the club about aftermath?" 

 Mr. Solon Robinson — The opinion probably would be, of a majority, if 

 fairly taken, that, as a general thing, aftermath is more valuable on the 

 land for mulch and manure than it is for feed. Its greatest value as feed 

 is for calves, or for lambs dropped in autumn or winter. It is also good 

 for milch cows, but it must not be relied upon alone. Ic has not substance 

 enough to keep up the supply of fat. In curing aftermath do not sun it 

 too much. It is so succulent that if exposed long to a scorching sun, the 

 best of it is burnt out. If you cut it to-day, while the dew is off", let it lie 

 until to-morrow in the swath, then turn it over without shaking apart, 

 when it is well heated in the sun. The next day put it up in large cocks, 

 with hay caps. These are almost indispensable. Watch the cocks until 

 cured to see that the inside does not sour and mold. Heating, if not car- 

 ried to excess, will not hurt the hay. It may turn black and still be sweet. 

 If carried to the barn when cured on a sunny day, that operation will dry 

 oft" all the sweat, and it will keep very sweet. Some farmers salt after- 

 math. It is not a good way. Three or four days are necessary to cure 

 aftermath in the swath or cock. 



The New Pest of Currant-Growers. 



Mr. Geo. W. Putnam, Peterboro, N. Y., sends the following description 

 of the lly which is the parent of a worm which is devastating the currant 



