ELM LEAF BEETLE IN NEW YORK STATE 



25 



in order to utilize the power more fully. A complete power 

 spraying outfit, aside from horse and wagon, should not cost 

 over 1500, the price naturally varying with market conditions 

 and quality of materials used. Four lines of hose can easily 

 be supplied though in most places in Albany not more than two 

 can be used to advantage. 



Some other apparatus in addition to that usually supplied 

 with spraying outfits is necessary. Several ladders or some 

 convenient arrangement for getting up into trees is almost 

 essential unless the spraying wagon has one of the elevating 

 platforms such as are used by electric car companies on repair 

 outfits. Two power spraying outfits constructed for the village 

 of Saratoga in 1899 were provided with these elevating towers 

 and these were found to be very effective and economical. The 

 cost of spraying for the forest tent caterpillar which, by the 

 way, need not be done so carefully as for the elm leaf beetle, 

 was but n^c a tree and considerable of this saving was at- 

 tributed to the elevating towers. In this instance 5667 large 

 maple trees were sprayed and practically all in the village were 

 treated, thus enabling the operators to save time in every pos- 

 sible manner. 



Time and manner of spraying. Though it is easy to state the 

 proper time to spray, in many cases it is exceedingly diflQcult 

 to have the recommendations properly carried out. The beetles 

 feed in the early spring on the young foliage for a considerable 

 time before any eggs are developed and eat for a day or two 

 between the deposition of the clusters. It therefore follows 

 that if the partly unfolded leaves are sprayed at this time the 

 beetles can be killed and the production of eggs prevented to a 

 large extent. This is very desirable, for if at all numerous the 

 beetles injure the foliage considerably. A number of arsenical 

 poisons can be used in the control of this insect with very good 

 results but the experiences of the last four years have demon- 

 strated the great superiority of arsenate of lead for this work. 

 This is a preparation made by combining acetate of lead and 

 arsenate of soda. It may be prepared as follows: dissolve 11 



