The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-04-12
CANKER WORM.
A Protection to Apple Trees from
This Troublesome Pest.

Last season, the singed appearance
of the apple orchards, here and there
all through the county and the south
part of the state, was very conspicuous
and the question with the owners was,
"What shall we do to save the trees
from another visitation next year?"
Spraying, with some form Of the arsen-
ties, was the first suggestions; that
seemed feasible. after SO many years OF
fighting potato bugs by this method
with success. But the canker worm
comes So insidiousy and needs such
prompt attention that few farmers are
prepared for instant warfare on the day
the foe is apparent. Spraying, indeed,
is not entirely adequate To the emer-
gcncy. At the time in early May, when
the blossoms and leaves appear and "A
dozen worms hatch out for every bud,
the april showers" are likely to lap
over and drench the trees daily so that
constant spraying is unavoidable and
consequently not effective.
Entomologists have studied the nat
ural history of this pest and find that
the brown Inch worm" or "measuring
worm" as 1t is frequently called, goes
into the ground at maturity and there
Is transformed into the perfected in.
sect-the male with wings, and the
female with appendages having the APP.
pearance of wings, but not capable of
flight, so she is forced to crawl like the
cutworm to get into the tree and on
the branches, where she lays her eggs.
The time of the appearance of these
marauders from the ground in the spring
is determined by the temperature of the
soil, which also in like measure governs
the appearance of the blossoms and
leaves. There is no danger of the two
missing connection-the worms will be
on hand to eat rs soon AS their dinner
is ready.
There were various devices invented
years ago to prevent the female from
climbing the body of the tree--her only
method of getting into position for ac-
tive and effective egg-laying. Zinc
shields, projecting downward, were
tackled to the tree; bands of cloth COW
cred with tar were wound about the
the trunk; strips of paper smeared with
printers ink, and troughs fiji led with oil
were interposed to prevent her ascent,
with various degrees of efficiency.
The fruit growers along the lake
shore have for several years been ex-
perimenting to find what will prevent
cutworms from ascending grape vines
and young peach trees and eating out
the buds. They have found tuft of
cotton tied around the stem very effect
i've, and within a year or two have
also found that wool is even better. Last
season X. Morrill, of Benton Harbor,
who is president of the State Horticul-
tural society, said to me that the canker
worm couldn't climb over wool, and
it was even better than cotton as II
shield against cutworms; he had proved
it by actual trial
Pick the wool up SO no gummy bridges
can be formed for the worms to get
hold Of, drive single nail through IA
tuft and knot the end of IA string TO il,
then follow around the tree, placing the
wool under the string and tying to the
nail again. My trees IN the orchard
where the worms appeared last year
are protected in that way, and | put
more reliance upon it than upon spray
ing, for reasons given above. Don't
delay the wool test much beyond the
middle of the month, for as soon As cut.
worms begin to appear the canker
worm is ready for business
A. &. GLIDDEN