Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-07-09
"a. ra0ml GgzRals
ITO IMPROVE TINE SON AID TIE Mind.
|TnE SOURCE OF WORMS ON TREES.
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BY careful, observation for several years. for
&fhe purpose Of aseefiaining the origin Or cause
Of the wsnns on trees, and especially N fruit,
have proved 10 my entire satisfaction that the
black ami IS the prime author, and that any
means that may be devised which Shall pre-
h vent the ant from running up the tree IN the
Yearly part ofihc Spring, before the blossoms
Z put forth. will efectually secure every particle
Of fruit the tree may bear. from being iroaay.
Almost all the early fruit brought 10 this mar-
ket, especially cherries and apples, are uniform
" al every season infested BY worms, and as
! know that the ant il the author afall the mis-
chief. offer for The benefit Of your readers the
] following narration 10 establish the truth Of
this remark.
Early In the Spring, as soon rs the Frost is
ont Of the ground, or shortly thereafter, and
lusi as the buds begin to pst forth, have Oh
served for several successive years peculiar
w soft, white, artistieally dossil Of seemingly
white fix cotton on various points Of my grape
vine. The patches Of cotton observed 10 reg
ularly augment N size, and increase IN mum
Der, from day 10 day They were invariably
situated upon the upper surface OF the ylne,
and generally IN a cleft formed by the diver
gence Of "A branch from the nam stem. TO OBJ
serve them was required to use step-ladder,
tliH mus tltNdtt dbbft. ~ HI yOaAA'
OF stick twisted off and detached several OF
them. After lime while thus occupied, sew
eral large black ants would interfere 10 prevent
il. They would bite the end of the stick aud
cling to il with such ferceness that could, by
slowly Withdrawing the stick, drag them for
some distance, and even suffer themselves to
be so far drawn from the vine as TO retain their
hold only by one foot. This strenuous defence
originally attracted my special attention, and
prompted me to destroy these nests, for such
Immediately recognized them to be. there
fore would twist oil the cotton upon the sick,
and, as far as practicable, obliterate the nest
Nevertheless | would on the following morn
ing discover that the damage had occasioned
had been, TO greater or less extent, repaired.
Inext resolved 10 attack the ants themselves,
which did with a stick, striking them and
breaking their backs and bones unmerctully,
After thus clearing them for the time being
from the vine. would resume the attacks up
on the nests. The ants, however, were IN
great numbers, and seemed peTsevenngly bent
upon repairing the nests and maintaining their
hold on the VINE. They obviously anticipated
my morning attack, but instead of exhibiting
themselves, as heretofore, the daring defenders
OF their nests, they would CATER few days
resistance,) content themselves with repairing
damages. When appeared in the morning,
they would simultaneously retreat to the side
OF the vine opposite to me, and thus endeaFoT
10 avoid observation. | discovered their trick,
and beat them regularly from the vine, killing
and manning all could. BY this means III
tiTnately inspired in them the greatest possible
dread Of me. They readily recognized me
from every other member Of my family.
If stood by the vine in company with one
or more members of my family, II was evident
that their sole attention was directed to me-
CThough this may appear very unquestiona-
Die, it has, nevertheless, been verified on many
occasions,)
If raised my stick they would be seen to
start, and upon tapping lightly upon the vine,
every ant would be seen TO jump instantly to
the ground, Thus have | witnessed dozens
of them precipitate themselves some ten Feet, 10
the ground However, notwithstanding my
vigorous war upon them, | did not destroy all
the nests: some of them, each year, were SUI
tered to remain. In each nest the ants deposit
ted an egg. This egg was ingeniously inter
woven in the soft, white. cotton substance
have mentioned as composing the nest The
ant was daily seen 10 attend upon the nest un
Ill this egg was changed into "A worm, which
in some extraordinary manner became detach
ed from the nest, and, spider like, suspended
itself from the vine, as thousands upon thou
sands o! the like are every summer 10 De Wit
messed, to the great annoyance Of the people,
hanging from ornamental trees and fruit trees
in this city. They are each and all of them,
The product IF the ant, and the question presents
itself, Shy what method can tie trouble be
best obvialed % While washing has often
been resorted to. and doubtless with more or
less benefit, still il is inadequate as protection
against the evil. know that lard, OF lard and
tar mixed, thickly laid ON to the lower part OF
the vine or tree, will efectually preserve the
fruit of the tree from being wormy, or the sees
from being infested with worms. The cheap
est and probably the most expeditions method,
is to ne good sized rope round the tree about
two feet from the ground, and turn tar and
lard warmed together upon the upper surface,
thus forming band OF the mixture overwhich
they cannot pass Lard, especially, they will
not approach SO as to soil their feet. On each
year the process must be repeated, but as ii
viii prove absolutely efIectual in protecting ev
cry tree TO which II is applied from bearing
wormy fruit, the trouble necessarily required
may cheerlully beencounered, especially with
regard to certain choice fruit trees.
Very respectfully, your friend,