THE CANADIAN HOKTICULTURIST. 119 



HOETICULTURAL GOSSIP.— XIII. 



BY L. WOOLVERTON, GRIMSBY. 



The Forest Tent Caterpillar, {CUsioeampa sylvatica,) is more 

 numerous this year about Grimsby than ever I have seen it. I had 

 just read the other day of the great devastation committed by the 

 army worms in northern New York State, Avlien I found our orchards 

 swarming with these cater])illars. Leaves were loaded with them here 

 and there on each tree, and great broods on the branches. 



They differ from the American Tent Cater2:)illar, {C. Americana^ 

 in that they do not congregate under webs, and in having a scries of 

 white stripes along the back instead of a continuous white line. 

 Another distinguishing feature is tlie color, which is of a paler liue. 

 Generally they are not friendly with the last named, seldom being 

 numerous in the same orcliard. How true it is that the fruit grower 

 to be successful must exercise the most restless vigilance. These 

 enemies will very speedily strip an orchard bare of foliage if left 

 unchecked. I found I nmst deal carefully with them, for tliey are 

 more wary than their American cousins, which hide under their webs 

 and calmly submit to death. They will drop to the ground if disturbed 

 and escape unless you are prepared for their maneuvres. Where I 

 found them congregated on a limb I gathered them on a flat trowel- 

 shaped board and there destroyed them, and where they were huddled 

 on a leaf high up, I cut the twig down with a long Waters' pruner and 

 stamped out their hateful lives. 



The Falling of Peach Leaves is a more perplexing trouble to 

 peach growers just now than any insect foe, for we know no way of 

 meeting it except with resignation. What does it mean ? The leaves 

 throughout the orchards are wilting and falling — we know not why. 

 Some trees look as if they were just transplanted, and were dying for 

 want of moisture. A little while ago the trees were full of blossoms, 

 and peach growers were beginning to solace themselves with the 

 expectation of a good crop and long prices. But, lo ! in a night our 

 hopes are vanished. Is it a premonition of a wide spread destruction 

 of peach orchards by the yellows, or is it some new disease ? We are 

 yet at a loss to say. 



The Yellows. — A meeting of the ^Fruit Growers' Association of 

 Grimsby was held the other day in the Town Hall, Grimsby, for the 



