Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-21
MILLIONS OF FIRE WORMS.
An East-ROund Plague that IL Devas-
tatfng the Westchester Apple Or.
cliards.

From the New York SUM-
Some of the finest apple orchards in the coun-
try are in Westchester county. The crop is val
liable, and owners OF orchards have taken care to
have young trees coming into bearing before the
older orchards were past their prime. The best
varieties are cultivated, the fruit ripens to per-
lection, and good prices are obtained in this
market. Apple raising is one Of the important
industries of the region. Two years ago the fire
worm did considerable damage in the orchards
Whereabouts. Last year also the trees suffered.
This year the crop in large proportion of the
orchards will be wholly destroyed by this pest.
The devastating creature is called the fire
worm. because the apple trees look as though
scOrched by flame after the worm has left them.
The leaves are devuured down to the little leaf
stack and ribs, and these turn red. The young
fruit withers and falls Off The worms are
black. smooth, and about three-fOurths of an
inch in length. They crawl like measuring
worms. When the limb on which they are
feeding Is Jared they drop down In showers.
spinning webs on which they ascend if they are
ret further disturbed. The worms made their
first appearance for this season about two
weeks ago
Mr.. 4. J. Quimby, Of New Castle. has abou
sixty acres Of bearing trees He said: "The
fire worms have made their appearance by
millions, and are running the apple crop around
New Castle, Chappaqua. Pleasantville, and all
through that region. The trees that they at
tack are crippled not only for this falls crop.
but for the next falls. for they will not recuper-
ate in time to bear next season. We don't
know what to do. All we have done so far is to
plough up the orchards in the hope OF turning
under the worms and eggs. and lessening the
swarm that will come out next spring.
You can't get an idea OF the numbers of these
worms till YOU see the orchards. The other day
l sent man out with an OK team to plough
among the trees. The worms drove him out.
They swarmed over him and the oxen till they
We're black with worms, and he had to give it
up. When man stands under tree and jars
limb the worms shower down upon him and
almost stffie him. In the villages people walk
in the middle of the streets rather than encoun-
ter the swarms Of worms that are dangling from
the apple trees which Overhang the sidewalks.
At Peasantvlle on Sunday evening the people
found that the worms had taken possession of
the front of the Presbyterian church, covering
the steps and door with black wriggling coat.
The other day saw Stephen Palmer, of Pleas
antville. sweeping the worms down from the
back side of his house. The house happened to
be in their path, and they went right up the
clapboards and into the windows, and would
have filed the rooms up solid if he hadn't dis
covered them in the beginning and commenced
fighting them.
"A curious thing about the fire worms is
that when they drop to the ground they always
start toward the east. Eastward the star of
these myriads takes its way. | dent see how
they can keep themselves straight n the points
OF the compass alter spinning round and rOund
as they come down on their webs but Just as
soon as one OF these worms touches the ground
he strikes out toward the east"
''Maybe they are going for Blaine" suggested
Westche ester politician.
"Well. they'll elect him, them" said Mr.. Quinn
by; mo doubt they are a majority
"They attack nothing but apple trees" Mr..
Quimby went on. when they begin crawling
toward the east they continue till they find an
apple tree In their path. Up they 20 and de-
YOUR every leaf on it. and then they drop down
and resume their eastward march,