56 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



it when applied to the fohage early in the spring. Care should 

 be taken to spray the top of the tree, as the attack usually 

 begins with the upper and more tender leaves. 



The disinclination of this insect to fly a great distance is 

 encouraging to the man who sprays his own trees, as it reduces 

 the chances of new infestation from uncared for trees nearby. 



The natural enemies do not as a general thing greatly reduce 

 the numbers of this pest. 



Spruce Bud Woriu. This pest has been characterized as 

 the most destructive enemy of the spruce in certain portions of 

 Maine, by Dr. Packard. It certainly has been this season and 

 the damage has been exceptionally great. The terminal shoots 

 of the spruce began to turn brown about the middle of June 

 and some looked as if fire had run through them.- The larvae 

 fed on the needles of both the first year's and the previous 

 year's growth in most places. The adults were first noticed the 

 first week in July and were very numerous. 



Valuable trees should be sprayed early next season with 

 arsenate of lead. 



Brouni-iail Moth. The situation as regards this pest is some- 

 what peculiar. While there were numerous nests and much 

 defoliating in the fall of 191 1, there was comparatively little 

 damage during the present season. Only a part of the caterpil- 

 lars were alive this spring, a fact due to climate and parasites 

 both, it would appear. Many nests were torn open evidently 

 by birds, so that the caterpillars were exposed directly to the 

 weather and were not hardy enough to endure it. Many para- 

 sitic flies were found living through the winter in the nests of 

 the brown-tail. 



This season the moths have extended their boundaries some- 

 what, but not to any great extent. The flight was very large 

 considering the comparatively small number of larvae and there 

 are more ne.sts at present than there were last year. After 

 more parasites have been acclimated and generally disseminated 

 the work of cutting the nests will be greatly reduced, but until 

 that happy time arrives we must push the work with unabated 

 vigor and determination. The success or failure to control the 

 pe.st rests mainly upon the authorities of the cities and towns, 

 so let all do their share and keep the damage as small as is 

 possible. 



The Quarantine Act is given in toto elsewhere in the report. 



