T, 



SO 



destroy the egg. The old remedy, soft soap, or a strong 

 solution of the same, is sure to prove very effectual if 

 applied at the prop>ir time. It may be applied with a 

 brush, but the bettor way is to use a cloth and scrub by 

 hand. They should begone over again in three weeks, and 

 those destroyed that have escaped the first treatment. 



In Saunders' " Insects Injurious to Fruits," the recom- 

 mendations made against this insect is brushing with a 

 strong solution of soft soap and washing soda, or a solution 

 made by dissolving half a pound or more of washing .soda 

 in a pailful of water. Painting the twigs and branches 

 with linseed oil is also recommended, and claimed to be 

 haimless to the tree and effectual for the de.struction of the 

 eggs shelteieil beneath the scale.'." 



In the report of the Horticulturist of the Central 

 Experimental Farm for 1890, we find the following : — Asa 

 preventative to scale and other bark insects, the stems and 

 main branches were washed early in June with soft .soap, 

 to which was added a sufficient quantity of a strong solution 

 of washing soda which had first been dissolved, to reduce 

 it to the consistency of a thick paint. This vv'ash has the 

 effect of keeping the bark green and healthy. It is a 

 practice that should be followed generally by fruit growers. 



THE TENT CATEllPILLAR 



occasionally appears in our orchards in the fall in such 

 numbers as to almost completeh' defoliate the tree. Ever}' 

 one is familiar with the white web nests of this caterpillar 

 when they appear on the trees early in summer. 



' The effofs from which these caterpillars are hatched are 

 deposited during the month ot June in oval rings. Each 

 cluster consists of from two to three hundred eggs, and is 

 covered and protected from the weather by a coating 

 glutinous matter. They are easily seen upon the twigs in 

 winter, when they may readily be destroyed. The same 

 temperature that causes the apple buds to swell and burst 

 quickens the vital energies of tliese larvte, and causes them 

 to eat their way out of their eggs. They commence to spin 

 a web the moment thej' ate hatched, and indeed they never 

 move without extending their thread wherever they go. 

 All the individuals from one batch of eggs work together 

 in harmony, antl each does its share in building the common 

 tent under which they .shelter when not feeding and in 

 inclement weather. They usually feed twice a day, once 

 in the forenoon and once in the afternoon. In about six 

 weeks they attain full size, when they de.sert their tent, 



