PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 181 



limbs. No attachment to the bole of a tree can be any protec- 

 tion against a flying insect like the curculio. The excrescence 

 on the limb is no more remarkable than the insect that produces 

 the balls upon oak trees. 



THE MEASURING WORM. 



If any one desires to extirpate- the worms that infest the trees 

 in our parks, now is the time to do it by destroying the eggs. 

 These worms maybe kept from ascending by protecting the boles 

 of the trees. If we had plenty of birds we should get rid of the 

 worms. It is only in cities that these worms are so troublesome, 

 where there are so few birds. 



GRAPE DESTROYERS. 



Dr. Trimble exhibited a specimen of a caterpillar that is trim- 

 ming off the bunches of grapes. He thought, perhaps, that they 

 Avill do no harm, only trimming off about as much of the fruit as 

 the owner should do himself. 



THE GARDEN OF AN ARTIST. 



Solon Robinson. — Since our last meeting, I have visited the 

 garden of an artist. Not an artist in gardening — not one who 

 professes or pretends to practice horticulture upon a scientific or 

 artistic plan. Nor do I mention it as a model of taste and skill 

 which may be imitated by the wealthy, at great expense, I men- 

 tion it rather as the garden of a mechanic, and just such a one 

 as a great many mechanics or professional men might have, if 

 they would ; if they only knew how. I mention it full of hope 

 that it may be the moving cause towards inducing other men who 

 have daily employment, as this one has, at some trade or profes- 

 sion, to devote a little time, some money, and a great deal of 

 sound common sense, in the cultivation of the little half-acre 

 plats that we often see surrounding village residences, with ex- 

 amples of the utter uselessness of land except to enable the 

 owner to show how barren and worthless he can make it. There 

 is no need of this idle use of land. There is no reason why 

 every owner of a village lot should not revel in all the luscious 

 fruits of the season, and treat himself and his friends to an occa- 

 sional bottle of wine, equal to any that he could purchase for a 

 couple of dollars, just as George *H. Hite of Morrisania is now- 

 able to do, free of expense ; for his garden pays its own way, and 

 a little more, of all cost of cultivation, leaving him in the enjoy- 

 ment of its delicious fruits, fresh from the earth, or their pro- 



