96 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



possibly may be a hardy native, but I should think it doubtful. The kinds 

 I would recommend for cultivation in Vermont, and which I think would 

 stand the Winter there without protection, are Concord, Delaware and 

 Hartford Prolific. 



Dr. Trimble — You should add the Adirondack. 



Solon Robinson — I certainly would not until it is further proved to be 

 both hardy and valuable for cultivation. It grows, looks and tastes like 

 the Isabella. If it is not that, it is doubtless a seedling of the Isabella. 



Silk Worms that Fied upon the Ailanthus. 



John D. Wingate, Bellefonte, Center Co., Pa., says the Eev. Dr. G. G. 

 Morris of Baltimore, will distribute this season some thousands of eggs of 

 the silk-worm of the variety heretofore spoken of in this Club as feeding in 

 France upon the leaves of the Ailanthus. He gives an account of the rear- 

 ing of the worm, as well as of the trees, their food, in the Patent-Office 

 Agricultural Report of 1861. 



Protection from Insects. 



Mr. Wingate recommends the following as a sure protection. He says: 



" Of all ofiensive things, a real strong smoke-pipe is the worst. Would 



they not be an excellent protection to put one or two a month to the base of 



peach trees to keep oif borers ? I have for several years used them in my 



entomological cases, and have found them a sure protection." 



The Leaf-Curling Worms. 



Dr. Peck, of Brooklyn, inquired how he should cure the curl on pear- 

 trees. It appears to be occasioned by a green worm, with a black head, 

 which rolls up in the leaf. I have medicated them with various substances 

 to no purpose. They are beyond the reach of my physic. What shall 

 I do? 



Dr. Trimble. — The best remedy that I know of for this pest, is to keep 

 wrens in the garden. Set up boxes for them, and they will soon come and 

 occupy them, and a single pair will frequently clear a fruit tree of worms 

 in a few hours. The next best remedy is to pinch the worms' heads. 



Dr. Peck — I have tried that, too. I hired a man to perform that dis- 

 gusting work, but these villainous worms baffle all our efforts. It is 

 almost useless to try to keep birds in our gardens in Brooklyn, the place 

 is so infested with cats. 



Solon Robinson. — And pray, Sir, if it was not infested with cats, would 

 it not be worse infested with rats ? You speak of these useful domestic 

 animals just as many others do — as though they were a sort of incum- 

 brance upon the earth. I do not particularly love worms, yet I object to 

 your calling them villainous. They are simply performing the part as- 

 signed them in the creation of all things. 



Dr. Trimble. — One of the best ways to rid pear trees of worms, is to 

 give them a vigorous growth. This never can be accomplished by those 

 who dig a little hole in the ground, into which they twist the roots of the 

 young tree. These leaf-curlers should teach us useful lessons— lessons of 

 persevering industry. Look at one of them at work — see how it attaches 



