Page:Husbandman and Housewife 1820.djvu/30

 Take live coals in a chafing dish; throw thereon some pinches of brimstone in powder; place the same under the branches that are loaded with caterpillars. The vapour of sulphur, which is mortal to these insects will not only destroy all that are in the tree, but prevent its being infested by them afterwards. A pound of sulphur will clear as many trees as grow on several acres. A chafing dish, or something to contain coals may be fixed on a pole, and put near the nest.

The hon. Timothy Pickering, in a letter to the corresponding secretary of the Massachusetts Agricultural society has recommended an instrument, which he has found simple, and more convenient than any he had used for the destruction of caterpillars. It is made by inserting some hog's bristles between a twisted wire, in such a manner as to form a cylindrical brush, which will present bristles on every side. This is attached to a pole of such length as the trees may require, and the caterpillars are brought down by it, and then crushed.

It is likewise affirmed that caterpillars, and other insects which infest our fruit trees, may be destroyed, by casting over the tree a few handfuls of ashes, in the morning before the dew is dissipated from the foliage, or after a shower of rain. The former is the preferable time.

A strong white wash of fresh stone lime applied by the means of a mop or a sponge fixed on the end of a pole is by some recommended. A little spirits of turpentine would, probably, be still more efficacious. And it is affirmed that sprinkling the leaves and shoots of plants infested by those insects when wet, with fine sand will cause the caterpillars to drop off in apparent agony.

It is said to be a good practice to examine the trees