1906.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 73. 155 



This tree has also the disadvantage of making a relatively 

 slow growth, and often is not as desirable for planting as 

 the ash. 



NEW METHODS. 



It is in some ways remarkable that in the period that has 

 elapsed since the cessation of the former State work against 

 the moths but few new methods of work against the pest 

 have been developed. One might have thought that, with 

 so many hundreds if not thousands of intelligent property 

 owners engaged in protecting their trees from damage, some 

 few at least would have hit upon a new or more economical 

 means of performing at least a part of the work. 



The only method absolutely new is that brought out by 

 Superintendent Charles P. Price of the Middlesex Fells 

 Reservation, to prevent the crossing of roads by the cater- 

 pillar swarms. It often happens in woodland that large 

 caterpillar colonies swarm from the stripped areas across roads 

 into woods that are in o'ood foliage. Mr. Price to some extent 



t^j ^* 



has been able to prevent this by a small windrow of marsh hay 

 sprinkled with low-grade burning oil. These windrows are 

 continued along the roadside, and when frequently treated 

 with oil form a barrier over which the insects cannot pass. 



The banding of trees with sticky materials to prevent the 

 ascent of caterpillars, while long used abroad and adopted 

 in the years of the former State work, has received a new 

 impetus from the development of a most excellent compound, 

 "Tanglefoot," which was extensively used the past year, 

 and in many cases with most satisfactory results. The suc- 

 cessful use of any banding material presupposes that the 

 trees have been freed from the moth in the first place, either 

 through nest destruction or by spraying. Nothing is gained 

 by banding trees already infested. On the other hand, 

 trees previously cleared of the moth, but standing in a badly 

 infested district, may be protected in a great measure by 

 banding. This method is particularly serviceable in wood- 

 lands and on street trees where the latter stand in or near a 

 badly infested spot. Promiscuous banding of street trees 

 without reference to surrounding conditions is not to be 

 recommended. 



