Some of our readers may remember that four or five years ago the claims of printers' ink as a protection against the canker worm were very generally and thoroughly discussed in all the Eastern Agricultural papers. Since then the subject seems to have dropped and become remarkably quiet. In the meantime its friends have not been idle, and with faith inspired, and faithful in works, have kept at its constant use. We have now some positive testimony from a very authoritative source, which cannot be disbelieved, in favor of this article, and we think it should be made widely known.

Mr. Pratt, Superintendent of the Public Grounds at Concord, Mass., has for the past three years had charge of the noble Elms which line the streets of the ancient and historic town. He has experimented carefully with printers' ink, by applying it in various ways to the fruit trees, sometimes directly to the bark, then by daubing tarred or brown paper and winding that around close to the ground. He has found it completely effectual, and has had best success by merely smoothing the rough bark slightly with a drawing shave, and then spreading the ink directly upon the shaved surface.

It does not injure the tree, and is not only much faster put on, but more efficacious even than the use of the tarred or sheathing paper, for there is then left no hiding place for the moth.

The slightest contact with the ink is death to the insect.

After using the ink upon all trees, large and small, Elm and Apple, without any paper, and for a period of three years, he sees no injurious effect on any tree.