Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-03-17
Tn" Carte-wOrm.

obnoxious and harmful pests that we
have with us. Their numbers are L.
gions and but for the winter birds
do not know how the world would fare
in our northern region especially,
which is one OF surpG sing woodlands
and a foliage that presents in summer
virtually one solid wall of grcenery
The apple orchards in this region are
SPRAYED with arsenate Of lead and
lime before the buds come out and
once again after the buds are out and
bursting. The reason for spraying be-
fore the buds are out is to catch the
vanguard of he cankerworm hosts
which are at that time appearing ready
to get at the buds when they burst.
Those rot killed then, it is claimed, will
be killed by the second ablution after
the buds are well under way. Where
trees are small and easy to reach with
the spray no doubt most of these
cankerwormS are wiped out of exist
ence, but where trees run tall and the
branches are wde-spreading it is hard
to reach every spot no matter how
diligent and painstakinE one may be.
1t is the spring cankerworm, AniSop-
teryX vernata, that is the most harm
full, but it should be remembered that
we have also with us the fall canker-
worm. This autumnal BLACKBOARD To-
blackguardeSs) waits until the birds
have mostly moved out of the region
on their southern migration. and then,
at her leisure, deposits her eggs in the
creviceS and knot holes. But there is
brave little crew of birds that have
not flown South and as between wood
peckers, nuthatches, brown creepers
and chicadees the eggs that the fall
cankerworm deposits are pried out and
disappear as bird food. In one small
apple orchard | have counted on one
day in the winter, all busily at work
on the trees, six downy woodpeckerS
four hairy woodpeckers, seven creep
ers and one nuthatch; and on other
days have counted as high as ten and
fifteen chcadees. , 1t is given the chic
ADDE'S to CLEAN through the branches
while the other birds take care of the
tree trunks. 1t is this ceaselcss work
of the birds in the winter that counts.
Their preservation is of the utmost
importance. They are assets of in
calculable value.
You will not be confused in knowing
the cankerworm when | tell YOU that
1t is the so-called "measuring worm"
1t is the half-inch long worm that makes
its way over the leaf or the tree by arch
ing its back and putting its back "feet"
up to the front "feet" every time il goes
forward. Studied under the lens they
prove to be discs set with insect "hobs :"
When the worm has securely fastened
these rearmost foot-appliances firmly
IN the bark, or the twig. it feels safe
to reach out and measure its length
and at the point it then reaches il Sc
cures its front feet. Then il arches
lis back IN the most sublime of staple
like curves and brings UP its back feet
to position exactly touching the heels
Of the front feet Ordinarily this
measuring business goes on at a snaips
pace but once witnessed a measuring
worm going across a branch with q
speed that betokened urgency spelled
with capital u. The wav his hack
bent and unbent was a caution. He
had all the agility responding in his
body that is witnessable in an urchin
when school lets out at the close OF
the season. The lad fits Heetly
through the door with lightning
Hash of feet-only the measuring
person here mentioned had his own es.
pecla!ly patented method Of progress.
1t should be well remembered that
this socalled cankerworm is not really
worm, but is a caterpillar. You NAV
have an idea that his earthly mission
ends with this wormlke stage but this
is only the beginning. As a "worm"
or cateToi'lar he lives only TO eat and
grow. Whcn he has had his fill he
produces a glutinouS secretion and
touching this to leaf or limb he sud
denly lets himself down to the ground.
much as a spider does; the glutin
producing a gossamer thread spun as
he descends. At times under the trees
you will see the air full Of them, all of
them bound for the earth. Upon
reaching the ground they at once work
themselves down cnc OF TWO inches in