1 8 The yoiirnal of Forestry. 



bulk of our liead foresters were more thoroughly versed ; for by a 

 knowledge of the natural history of these iusects, and by judicious 

 preventive measures against their inroads and attacks, much benefit 

 to the growing woods in many situations would result. Tiie insects 

 which are destructive to growing timber generally are of two descrip- 

 tions. First, those which attack the deciduous or hardwood trees ; and 

 secondly, those which confine their ravages to the evergreen trees, — 

 or rather, to those chiefly of the coniferous tribe. In regard to both 

 of these classes, however, it may be said that the proper time for 

 their destruction is the summer season. They include the May-bug 

 {Melolantha vuk/aris), which attacks botli deciduous and coniferous or 

 resinous trees and shrubs; the processionary moth (Bomhi/x gastropaclo' 

 jyrocessionea), which is very injurious to the oak ; also the Melolanfh' 

 hippocastani, which is frequently very abundant upon and especially 

 destructive to til e horse-chestnut; and there is also a smaller beetle 

 of the same family, the Anisoplia [Ilelolfoitha] hoiiicola, which is 

 principally the enemy of fruit-trees. The satin moth {BomhTjr 

 Ziparis Salicis), is another great enemy in low damp situations to 

 trees of the willow tribe planted in wet or moist positions ; and in 

 addition to these there are the buff-tip moth {BoiuImij: Byijaera 

 lucepiliahi), stripping the leaves of deciduous trees, as the oak, beech, 

 birch, alder, and willow, and the large family of pine-destroying weevils 

 or beetles. It does not fall within the scope of this paper to refer to 

 the natural history of these destructive pests, further than to mention 

 them as subjects for the interesting observation of the intelligent 

 forester during the summer months in the woodlands, and by the 

 destruction of which during his operations there at that season, he has 

 it in his power to do much good to the plantations under his care. 



An account of the ravages of these insects would no doubt form a 

 most interesting narrative in forest history, and a complete descrip- 

 tion of tlie little animals, with their wonderful adaptations for 

 carrying on their predatory work, would be most instructive ; but 

 these points would occupy far too much of our space, and would 

 besides be beyond the scope of the subject we have in hand ; and we 

 accordingly confine our notice of these pests of the woodlands to the 

 general statement that their annihilation during the summer months, 

 in any localities where they have appeared, will be one of the greatest 

 achievements of the forester's summer duties, and in the future 

 will prove to have been one of the most thoroughly profitable and 

 advantageous to the plantation. Where a tree is observed to 

 be infested with insects, a careful search must be instituted for 

 them and their larvte, and should the search fail, the total destruc- 

 tion of the tree by burning is preferable to sparing it and trust- 

 ing to other ibrtuitous circumstances of weather, thinninq' or 



