N'ew Yokk Agricultukal Expeeiment Station. 293 



time previous. Dr. Lintner^^ recorded the appearance of the cater- 

 pillars in great numbers in Washington Co., in 1889-90. They 

 were especially destructive to maple trees. Again in 1893 he 

 referred to their ravages in the apple orchards in certain sections 

 of the State. During 1896 and 1897 the caterpillars were abun- 

 dant throughout the Central and iNTortheastern part of the State 

 and during the two following years there were several important 

 outbreaks in some of the timbered sections. 



THE EECENT OUTBREAK IN THIS STATE. 



Its extent. — Although as previously indicated the forest tent- 

 caterpillar is far from being a newcomer in the State we are 

 unable to find any records which indicate that it has ever before 

 occurred in such great numbers over so wide an area within our 

 borders. To ascertain approximately the extent of the outbreak, 

 letters of inquiry were sent to correspondents in nearly every 

 county in the State. From the data thus secured, together with 

 personal observations in some of the most seriously infested sec- 

 tions of the State, the accompanying map has been prepared 

 (Plate XX). This map is intended to show only approximtaely 

 the area that was most seriously infested. It is not improbable, 

 however, that the caterpillars occurred scatteringly throughout 

 the entire State as they were seen in more or less abundance 

 from Long Island to Buffalo and along the most N"orthern 

 boundaries of the State. The outbreak was most severe along 

 the Western, ISTorthern and Eastern slopes of the Adirondacks, 

 the valley of the upper Hudson, the Mohawk valley, the Catskill 

 region, in the southern part of Onondaga and Madison, and 

 throughout Cortland, Chenango and Otsego counties, and in the 

 Upper Genesee valley. 



Special reports from infested localities. — During the season 

 reports were received from correspondents in localities where the 

 caterpillars were abundant. These reports together with similar 

 facts gained by personal observation are of value principally 



11 Lintner, J. A. Sixth Report, p. 106. 



