222 - EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



7-8 EDWARD VII., A. 1908 



both on the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards. It has been particularly noticed with 

 regard to these, as well as with the White Grubs, that their injuries are most severe 

 in old beds which have been left standing for several years. Another advantage in 

 growing strawberries under this new method, is that the Strawberry Eust and some 

 otlier fungous diseases are also checked. 



The Brown-tail Moth, Euproctis clirysorrJicea, L. — Four years ago the first speci- 

 men of the destructive Brown-tail Moth was taken near St. John, N.B., and in July, 

 !1905, another specimen was taken at Digby, N.S. Students of insects in Canada have 

 been on the alert to detect any further specimens of this insect in those parts of 

 Canada with which there was frequent intercourse with those infested States of New 

 England where the insect was known to be doing so much harm. Although there have 

 been frequent references in the daily press to the occurrence of the insect in destruc- 

 tive numbers, in various parts of the maritime provinces, all of these when investi- 

 gated were found to be based on erroneous information. Early in the present spring 

 an undoubted nest containing the caterpillars of the Brown-tail Moth was received 

 from Mr. C. Perry Eoote, of Lakeville, N.S. This was the first actual instance of the 

 larvas being found in Canada. Mr. Eoote writes: 



' On February 23, I was looking for nests of Tussock Moth and picked the webbed 

 leaves I am sending you. As there were no eggs on the outside, I tore the nest open 

 and was not a little surpris-ed when I found inside it a great number of small cater- 

 pillars. I took them into the house and, being near the fire, in a very few minutes they 

 were active, but did not m.ove very much.' 



Immediately on the receipt of these caterpillars, an article giving the habits of 

 the Brown-tail Moth and advice as to measures which should be immediately put in 

 force, Avas sent off to the leading agricultural journals in Canada, as well as to the 

 local press in the places in Nova Scotia v/here it was thought that the insect would 

 probably be found. At the same time the provincial government of Nova Scotia, 

 through Prof. M. Cumming, Principal of the Agricultural College at Truro, took 

 active measures towards the eradication of this serious enemy before it became more 

 widely distributed. The following article was published, in the Farmer s Advocate of 

 London, the Montreal Daily and Weelcly Star, the Maritime Farmer and other papers. 

 Several local papers have reprinted such parts of the article as they considered of 

 most interest to their readers: 



TEE BROWN-TAIL MOTH IN CANADA. 



In 1902 Mr. William Mcintosh, of St. John, New Brunswick, took- a single male 

 specimen of the Brown-tail Moth (Euproctis chrysorrhcea, L.) about 20 miles from St. 

 John, N.B. About the same time another specimen was taken by Mr. Gordon Leavitt, 

 at St. John; and in July of 1905, Mr. John Russell took a third specimen at Digby, 

 Nova Scotia. Up to the present time these have been the only authentic records of 

 this much-to-be-dreaded insect having been taken in Canada. Recently, however, i 

 have received from Mr. C. Perry Foote, of Lakeville, Nova Scotia, one of the winter 

 nests of the Brown-tail Molh, filled with the living caterpillars, thus proving that this 

 insect has established itself at one place at least in Canada. 



It was to be expected that the moths might be found here at any time, having 

 been brought up direct from Massachusetts on one of the steamboats which ply regu- 

 larly between Boston and the Maritime Provinces; but this would not necessarily 

 prove that the insect had established itself. The occurrence of the young caterpillars, 

 however, is a more serious matter, and sliows that energetic measures are necessary 

 at once to suppress and possibly to wipe out this unwelcome visitor before it becomes 

 more widespread. The recognition of the winter nests is an easy matter, and this is 

 the time of year to attend to their destruction. The Brown-tail Moth posses the 

 winter as a very young caterpillar, and large numbers of these form colonies at the 



