The Canker-worm
The "encloBed letter" referred to by Prof. Cook in the comniunicotiau below, clipped i'roiu the Post and Tribune of May 20, deacribed the appearance and ravages of the ciuikor-worm in three orcharda noar Coldwater. Washtenaw fruit-growers should keep an eye out for the "varniint :" Agricultural Colleoe, } Lansing, Micu., May 17, 1878. To the LJitor of the Post ond Tribune : By tbe enclosed letter we learn that the cauker-worin - for this ia the insect sent by Mr. Bidolman - which were before at Adrián, Lenawee oounty, Pontiac, Oakland county, Plymouth, Wayue county, and earlier still in Calhouu and Geuesee counties, are now in Branch. For a full de8Ciiption and exposition of this subject, with illustrations, the reader is referred to my papers in the Report of the State Poniologicnl Society for 1876, pago 35. Tbis is uuquestionably the worst scourge that can afilict the apple orchard. lts prosonce is almost sure deatli, unloss provention is practiced. The redeemiug feature in its habita is that it is very slow to spread froin one oroliurd to another; though at Coldwater it seems to be already in three different orchards. If in May the leaves ara beiug rapidly destroyed on the apple trees, and the depredator is fouud to be a dark-colored - though there uiay be yellowish stripes - ineasurlng worm, which, if disturbed, will swing froiu a silkon web, which it spins for the occasion, then bo sure you are afflicted with this terrible pest. Sprinkling with Paris green is the easiest, cheapest, and most thorough and efficiënt reuiedy. The mixture should consist of%ne tablespoonful of the poison to three or tour gallous of wuter. Place a barrel in the wagon, fill it nearly full of water and theu add the poison. A barrelhead float on top will keep the liquid from slopping over. Every ten minutes the mixture should be stirred, that the green may not settle too much. Now drive on the windward side of a tree, and with a "Whitman Fountain Pump," or souie syriuge, spiinkle the tree well with the mixture. This will deal out death iu wholesale doses to the terrible destroyers, and save the orchards, and will be quite inexpen8ive aud very rapidly performed, if the application is made with tho Whitman Fountain Pump. In these days of insect depredation, this is almost invaluable to the farmer and fruit-growors. It will throw water 30 feet high and 60 feet horizontally, and is readily workud by a boy 10 years of age. It also sprinkles vory uniformly and with very little waste. It is also good in case of fires, to wash buggies and windows, and to sprinkle the garden aud lawu. It costs $10, or $6 by the duzen. Why should not our State Pomologicttl Society do a very good work by keepiug these pumps aud selliug to the pomologists at $C aud transportation V The value of the engine, I think, would more than warrant this course. Every orchardist ought now to scrape his apple trees. The rough bark harbors the Codling moth pupa, protects the enervating bark-lice, and stands in the way of the application of that great insect suecinc, soit soap. As soon as the rough bark is scraped from the tree rub the truiiks and niain branches with soft soap. Be sure to do thiB as early as the last week of May. It will be death to all the young barklice, which have just hatohed out and are commencing to devitalizo the trees, and will keep at bay both of thoso terrible plagues, the round headed and the rlat headed borers, for the beetles, like some people, have an aversión to this article, and will not come near to lay their eggs. With young orchards especialjy thlO wotï, ;- vwjjt tiuyiiaiil. Soap should be used in preferecce to lye, as the latter, though partially eüicient to destroy the lice, is uo hindrance to the borers. Now ia the time to examine tho foliage of all the young fruit trees, especially plum trees, and see if there are uot myriads of aphis sucking away the very life. If present they may be quickly vanquished by sprinkling with strong soap suds, and here again the fountaiu pump will come to our aid. Only yesterday I used it in a grand work ot carnage in some vigorous young plum trees, aud have thus preserved their vigor, whieh otherwise would surely have been sapped.
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Michigan Argus