Injurious Insects and How to Control Them. 67 



out and devouring numerous insects and their eggs, relying on 

 the meat only when conditions are unfavorable for obtaining in- 

 sect food. Migratory birds may be induced to remain in larger 

 numbers in a locality by providing them with suitable nesting 

 places and materials, and by affording them protection from cats 

 and other enemies, not excepting man. Thickets in the vicinity 

 will afford shelter for certain species, and if a few mulberry 

 trees are set out their fruit will serve to protect the cherries, as 

 the birds are said to eat mulberries by preference. Most of these 

 suggestions are taken from a very practical paper by Mr. For- 

 bush. 



Remedies for forest tent caterpillar. — There is little that can be 

 done to prevent the ravages of this insect in forests and large 

 sugar bushes, aside from protecting birds, but in orchards, on 

 shade and other of the more valuable trees it is practicable to 

 fight this insect in the egg, caterpillar and cocoon stages. During 

 the winter and early spring the lower twigs bearing egg clusters 

 should be cut off and burned. Every egg mass thus destroyed 

 means approximately 200 less caterpillars to fight the coming 

 spring. As soon as the pests cluster in the trees, they should be 

 brushed down or dislodged with a torch. The latter method is 

 hardly advisable on account of the danger of injuring the tree. 

 Many caterpillars can be jarred from the limbs. In whatever way 

 they are gotten out of the tree, bands should be employed to pre- 

 vent the caterpillars from ascending. A strip of cotton batting 

 tied tightly around its middle to the trunk and the upper portion 

 turned back over the string makes a very effective barrier so long 

 as it remains dry. pands of tar, grease, equal parts of lard and 

 sulphur, etc., are very effective in preventing the creatures from 

 climbing the trees, once they have been gotten out. If these 

 latter substances are used, it will be safer to first put on a band 

 of thick paper and apply the grease or tar to it, thus avoiding 

 danger of ultimate injury to the bark. Wherever the caterpillars 

 are at all abundant, it will i)robabIy be necessary to kill those 

 collecting below the bands with hot water, kerosene emulsion or 

 by crushing. These insects yield readily to arsenical poisons, 



