Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-02-03
SsrituIatraI.
iFrom the Germantown Telegraph, ]
The Three Orchard Pests.

I propose in this article to say few
words about three pests of the orchard in
this vicinity-the borer, the canker-worm,
and the caterpillar. The first / consider
the most difficult to deal with, as they at
tack the tree in its infancy when it is least
able to withstand their assaults. In the
selection of trees to set out, great care
should be used to get those that are free
from them in tho first place, and then re-
member that success, in this as we'll rs in
anything else, is the reward only of vigi-
lance. After having taken all due precau-
ton in the selection of the trees, they must
be marked and the knife and flexible wire
must be used wherever one makes its APP
pearance. AS to injecting poisonous sub
stances or hot water into their holes,
have never seen i. done, and so l cannot
judge of its effects.
Next comes the canker-worm, and he is
a pretty troublesome fellow, but as his
habits are well-known, and his depreda-
tions confined to one particular time of the
year, we can lay our plans and out-hank
him easily, five only attend to il faithfully.
Among the many traps that have from
time to time been offered to the public,
some of which might reasonably be called
scarebugs, none that have seen have been
at all efectual, and we have been obliged
TO fall back upon the old method, in vogue
hundred years ago, and that is tar, eth
er coal-tar from the gas-house or pine tar,
and more recently printers ink, as not re-
quiring to be renewed so often, though if it
should be requisite to renew it every day
the expense would be an objection. The
method to which L allude, is to take strip
of sheathing paper about ten inches wide,
and tie it or tuck about the trunk of the
tree in October, and then tar or ink with n
paint-brush. But few will be caught in
the fall and don't think that many that
are around the tree ever do any harm. In
the spring as soon as the frost begins to
come out of the ground, we must be on the
alert, apply the tar or ink MS long as any Of
the gruls arc taken. These bands of pa
pers should be taken of as soon as the in
sects have done going up the tree, as the
black absorbs the heat of the sun and is
apt to injure smooth-barked trees. A new
instrument has been sent to me within q
day or two, which | have never seen in
use, but l think it may be much better
than any other trap have seen. 1t is SIM
pie in construction and not very expensive.
1t is made of two by three inch pine stuff,
grooved as for cutters. The groove is an
inch and five eighths by three-fourths deep !;
it is cut so as to make squares of any desr-
ed size, three sides are nailed together, the
off to adjust it to the tree. They must be
set by level on the ground and all the
spaces be filled in with some kiud of NOR
tar, and the groove be !illed with tar. The
cost here is twenty cents per foot across
the inside of the frame and one cent addi-
tional for larger and some deduction for
smaller ones. l see one objection to the
efficiency of these and that is, the mortar
may collect on the top of the tar, and thus
prevent its sticking the insects ; this might
perhaps be removed by a sponge. When
the tar gets encrustod over, it may be stir
red to remove the crust. Another trouble
might be that when the insects were very
plenty they might bridge over the tar, but
think this would happen but seldom.
think these frames might be well adapted
to gentlemens places who might dislike the
tar band for its unsightly look. So much
for the canker-worm.
The caterpillar can be dispatched i'll
short order. No measure can be taken to
prevent them from depositing their eggs,
which is always done in the fall. We have
got to bide our time with them. When
they get about halfgrown, take n suitable
pole, tie swab of oakum on the end of it,
get some kind Of thick oil, what we call
blubber here, which is decomposed ish-liy-
ers, dip the swab into it and push it through
the nest, taking care To smear the nest
pretty well with oil, and the work is done.
Every one that is abroad and comes bone,
puts his foot into the oil and is n goner.
They never attempt to repair the old house.
ant the largest part are killed.
think there should be some legal enact
ment to compel owners Of apple trees Il
clear them at least of the two last named
pests, or else cut them down, and not kecr
them year after year to annoy their neigh
bers.
J. L. HUBBARD.
Peabody, Dec. Is, 1871.