126 THE CANAniAN foresteb's 



dressing, freshly made, with a brush, in the month of 

 April. 



Sprinkle slaked-lime or hellebore, when the dew is 

 on, over the leaves of trees attacked by caterpillars. 



In autumn, turn up the land carefully ; the larvae 

 hidden in the soil will thus be exposed to the action of 

 the frost. Sometimes, Indian corn is sown round the 

 trees, pigs are turned into the nursery, and many a 

 chrysalis is destroyed by these animated grubbers. A 

 ploughing before winter sets in, and another in early 

 spring, will expose a crowd of insects to the ravages of 

 the frost and the voracity of birds. 



It is well to look over the trees in winter, for the pur- 

 pose of destroying the nests of insects, and the strings of 

 eggs which are often found encircling the branches. 



Lastly, the greatest protection should be given to in- 

 sectivorous birds, the most useful auxiliaries to man in 

 the destruction of insect pests. Their breeding should be 

 favoured, and children should be taught that birds 

 should b ■ the objects of their love and care, instead, as 

 often, too often indeed, happens, the victims of their 

 cruelty. 



CHAPTEE XIX. 



CULTIVATION OF OENAMENTAL TREES. 



It appears to me, that, did I not say a word on the 

 advantage to be gained by making use of our fine forest 

 trees for the ornamentation of our abodes, I should be 

 omitting one of the not least important divisions of my 

 subject. 



I have already spoken, in the course of this work, of 

 the reserve of wood which each settler should make on 



