Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-21
SPENCER.
FARMERS INSTITUTE.
Stormy Day and Late Electric Cars In
terfere Somewhat With Attendance.

Institute by the Spencer Farmers and
Mechanics Association proved stormy
and disagreeable. Thursday was no
exception to the rule. The snow that
commenced falling in the early MORN
ing turned to sleet which made trav-
cling in any form uncomfortable and
disagreeable.
Electric cars were delayed in their
trips, and at the appointed hour for the
morning session there was not score
present. Later on there were about 90
in attendance.
President Thomas j. Comins presided,
4 and introduced the speaker, A. H. Kirk
land Of the gypsy moth commission,
who took for his subject, "Insects inJur-
4 ious to shade and fruit trees" He il
Illustrated his remarks with numerous
drawings showing the various insects
in several stages OF. development.
Mr.. Kirkland said, in part; "A few
weeks ago, while in conversation with
a well known economist, this question
was asked me: why is 1t that every
tree or shrub to which we attach value
has so many insect foes to destroy it?"
In other words, why should we cultivate
trees and plants which are so valuable
! to man, have so many enemies, while
1 the weeds and rough shrubs and trees
by the roadside thrive unharmedT This
l QUESTION DTeSHIlIeu
some shape or other, and we may nave
mentally given it the same answer that
my friend gave; 1T is part Of the
plan Of creation to make us earn our
living by the sweat Of our brow If we
dismiss the matter thus, we ignore two
facts. First, that cultivated trees ana
plants, from the artificial condition un-
der which they live, are practically eus-
ceptible to insect attack; and, second,
that uncultivated plants also have their
full quota of enemies. These latter are
often entitled to our esteem, since they
/ prevent the undue multiplication OF
weeds, but they may be dismissed with
this brief mention, since the insect enc
mics of fruit and shade trees offer US
a subject broad enough to occupy al OF
our attention at the present time, II we
1 consider the problem in it's broadest as
poets.
"Consider, for example, the fruit tree,
such as the apple. Compare the mod
ern apple tree with its primitive an
cestor The crab-apple, tree whose
small, hard fruit would not furnish rood
for more than one apple worn, Whlle the
i large. Juicy fruits of the apple trees OF
the present day could harbor half a
4 dozen inmates very comfortably.
! SIT may be truthfully said that In
sects, from their great number and va
riety, have established q kind or 90
! minion over the earth and its inhabl-
tants Minute as many of them are, fire.
quently unnoticed by the casual obser-
yer. they have often, in combination,
! desolated whole countries, and left fam
! inc and pestilence in their train.
''Since the apple is the most import
1 ant fruit grown in this state, consld-
Grafton of its common insect enemies
i may properly commence this dlscus-
sion. The census of 1885 gives the value
of the apple crop of this state for that
year as 81, TIA, ,451, and it is entirely PROB
able that the value of the average an
nual crop is now somewhat greater. L
believe that at least one-fifth of the
crop is annually destroyed through the
ravages of insects. Thus, nearly $780,
900 is annually given up without mum
mur by the apple-gTowerS Of the state.
"One Of the most common insect pests
of apple orchards, and the one which
appears earliest in the season, Is the
bud MOTH
! Mr.. kirkland, then, by charts, ex-
planned the habits of the. different in
sects injurious to shade and fruit trees,
among which are the codling moth, the
tent caterpillar, plant lice, the San Jose
scale, apple nlaggot, pear slug, borers,
canker worm, the imported elrn-leaf
beetle, the tussock moth, the European
brown-tail moth, the latest addition to
our insect pests; and the imported gyp-
sy moth.
"The state has been fighting this in
sect for about six years; and, while the
insect is not yet exterminated, it is
thoroughly under control.
professor Fernald estimates that the
gypsy moth would cause at least $780,
000, 900 damage to the farmers Of the
state, should it be allowed to escape be-
yond the bounds within which it is now
confined"
Mr.. Kirkland recommends spraying
to exterminate these pests, with paris
| green, at the rate of one pound to $50
gallons Of water, or with arsenate of
lead, two-thirds pounds to 150 gallons of
water. He said it might be necessary to
spray the trees twice before blossom
ing.
Mr.. kirkland emphasized the necessi-
ty of protecting winter birds, such as
nuthatches and chickadees and others
that seek their food in the bark Of
trees. These birds will destroy an in
calculable number of hibernating in
sects, and may be kept around an or
chard all winter, by putting few old
meat bones in the trees.
Mr.. Kirkland gave a formula for the
manufacture of the arsenate of lead;
which, he said, any farmer could follow:
\ IL OF. acetate of lead, 4 o. aGsenate Of
soda; dissolve separately and mix the
solution with As gallons of water. This
can be used as a spray like paris green,
but Is less dangerous. The same pro-
portions are essential 20 larger or
smaller quantities.
Mr.. Kirkland spoke for about 80 min
utes, and was listened to with the clos
est attention.
At 12 o'clock the institute adjourned
for dinner.
/ At 1 O'Clock the institute was again
called to order, and then the subject
matter Of the address was discussed,
and questions were asked. Those who
took part in the discussion were: r.
Elton Green, John G. Avery, Amasa T.
Bemis, Dea. Edward Proctor, John w.
Bigelow, H. H. Kingsbury, DR.. e. w
Norwood and Frank D. Adams.
/ :. AT 3 o'clock, on motion of ]. Elton
Green, vote of thanks was extended
to Mr.. Kirkland for his able address,
AMI the institute adjourned.
BAD DAY FOR ELECTRICs.
i Thursday was the worst of the season
for operating electric railways Both
tracks and trolley wires were covered
with water and ice, making it nearly
impossible to ascend steep grades. The
car on the w. B. & s. Electric Railway,
due in Spencer at Z, did not reach its
terminus till 11S0; and the next car,
due at II, came in little after O'Clock.
Travel on the Spencer division of the
Worcester and Suburban road was but
a little less regular. On account Of the
storm, all outdoor business was slls-
pended.
OTHER MATTERS.
f. A. Stearns Post 81 held it's reg