120 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



the worms every day. A very large portion could be thus destroyed. I 

 found the starling- very busy upon the trees in I'hiladelphia. There are 

 many small birds, but they cannot manage the worms after tliey are full 

 gTOwn. There are squirrels also in Phihidelphia parks, and they eat some 

 •worms; they also eat young birds. These wonns have become such a 

 pest in these cities that every suggestion for their destruction is worthy 

 of consideration. Much might be accomplished by hiring persons to 

 destroy the eggs upon the trees. 

 ^ Mr. John G. Bergen. — It has been proposed to hire children to collect 

 the worms, and doubtless much might be accomplished in that way. I 

 got rid of the cockroaches in my house by perseverance in killing all that 

 could be found. 



Dr. Trimble. — That Iowa letter writer is entirely in error about the 

 snapping bug being the progenitor of the apple tree borer. I am not ac- 

 quainted with the locust borer, nor a remedy, ])iit I do know that the apple 

 borers are doing immense damage, and must be picked out by hand when 

 they once make a lodgment. 



Propagating Quinces. 



Will some one tell me the best method for propagating the Japan quince ? 

 I have tried cuttings in the spring, and failed. 



Potatoes. 



After all that has been said on the subject of potatoes, and your patience 

 so exhausted already, if I knew anything to prevent their commencing to 

 rot, I should not dare to tell it, but I believe the injury may be very much 

 lessened by proper care after they do commence rotting. If ripe, or nearly 

 BO, dig them immediately, without Avaiting to get ready, and do it on a dry 

 day if possible. Let them dry on the ground through the day, then spread 

 them on the barn floor if not dry, or if they are dr}-^, they can be put up 

 toa'ether, sprinkling lime all through the pile. If it is too light, cover a 

 little hay or something over them. I leave mine in the barn till I am 

 afraid of their freezing, then put them in the cellar, and I have scarcely 

 any rot after they are dug." 



Disease in Raspberry "Vines. 



Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter. — The best way to prevent the disease in rasp- 

 berry bushes is to remove the plants from the old plantation to a new 

 once every three years, taking care always to keep them in rich ground, 

 well manured. 



Mr. John G. Bergen said, as a general thing, that view is correct, though 

 I know one plantation upon Long Island upon sandy soil which is still 

 vigorous and fruitful upon the same ground it has occupied for 20 years, 

 but the ground has been very highly nianured every year. As a general 

 thing, old raspberry roots produce many barren canes, and such plants are 

 more apt to be affected by this disease than others having a very vigorous 

 growth. Speaking of manuring raspberry plants reminds me of the theory 

 which has been advanced, and very generally adopted, that a strawberry 

 field required no manure. I fell in with that theory. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — So did I, and fell overboard. 



Mr. John G. Bergen. — So will every one, figuratively speaking, who 



