2,2 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I906. 



Of 179 orchards canvassed in Orleans county the following 

 report was made : 



Yields and incomes from orchards sprayed different numbers of 



times. 



How treated. 



0/ 



« o . 

 ■<.5 ft 



(U 



^ 



Unsprayetl 



Sprayed once 



Sprayed twice 



Sprayed three limes 

 Sprayed four times. . 



$103 

 139 

 143 

 184 

 211 



The significance of the figures given is so obvious that com- 

 ment is unnecessary, except that they corroborate in full the 

 experience of those who have practiced similar treatment in this 

 State. 



THE MENACE OF THE CATERPILLAR. 



The approach of the gipsy-moth and the brown-tail, has 

 stirred the people of Maine to such an extent as to insure active 

 steps for the control of these pests. Every year, however, trees 

 are defoliated by canker worm, forest caterpillar, tent caterpillar, 

 and similar enemies, with little attempt on the part of growers to 

 protect themselves from damage. 



It is well understood that the forest caterpillar appears in 

 destructive numbers at more or less irregular intervals ; only to 

 disappear again, after ruining many orchards, and defoliating 

 hundreds of thousands of forest trees. This disappearance is 

 caused by the rapid increase of natural parasites. With tht 

 destruction of the caterpillars, the parasites die, and so there is 

 an alternation in the period when there are many and when 

 there are few of these pests. 



The last serious invasion of the forest caterpillar was in 1897 

 and 1898, when whole orchards were swept as if by fire for two 

 successive seasons. The results were naturally disastrous. It 

 is now nearly time for a return of this caterpillar and the enter- 

 prising orchardist will be ready to meet it. 



