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HORTICULTURE 



April 14, 1906 



Those Moth Pests 



The $250,000 appropriated by the Massachusetts 

 legislature to exterminate the gypsy and brown-tail 

 moths has called forth some comment from the people 

 not residing in the stricken district. A visit to the 

 infested region would quickly quiet all rnurmurings. 

 No other town wants even a small share of either of the 

 two worst insect pests that Massachusetts has ever 

 known. The money so wisely set aside by the 1905 leg- 

 islature is being spent in an endeavor to restrain the 

 moths within their present limits. 



In the case of the brown-tail moth this will not be 

 wholly impossible if hearty eo-operation is given by 

 tenants, something now required by law. The brown- 

 tails pass the winter in colonies of three hundred, in 

 tight cocoons made from two or three leaves on the 

 tips of the branches. Hence the winter treatment con- 

 sists in the removal and burning of these nests. 



The gypsy moths pass the winter in the egg stage. 

 There are about 500 eggs in a cluster, mixed with hair 

 from the female moth. The whole presents the appear- 

 ance of a more or less oval pod about one inch in length 

 and varying in color from yellow to a dirty white, 

 according to the time of winter. Winter treatment 

 consists in painting these egg masses with black 

 creosote. 



To my mind the ultimate relief from the gypsies will 

 come with parasitic insects or disease, following the 

 natural order of things, but until such aid does come, 

 no stone must be left unturned to keep them in check 

 by thorough winter treatment and summer spraying 

 with concentrated arsenate of lead, such as Bowker's 

 Disparene. Spraying combined with the conscientious 

 pruning and burning of the nests will eventually head 

 off the brown-tail moth. 



The brown-tail is ieported from Eastport. Maine, to 

 Cape Cod, Mass.. and one hundred miles west of Bos- 

 ton ; the gypsy in a more restricted area in eastern 

 Massachusetts, but accounts of their presence in new 

 parts appear almost every day in the daily papers. A 

 sharp look-out should be kept by every one for the char- 

 acteristic nests and egg masses. If there is any doubt 

 as to the nature of the contents forward it to your 

 experiment station for identification. If you haven't 

 it you don't want it. and if you do have it you want to 

 find it out. It is a deal simpler to exterminate one 

 colony on a restricted area than a hundred colonies 

 dove-tailing one inrn another. Furthermore, do your 

 best to secure the U. S. appropriation of $275,000 to 

 keep them where they are. even if you don't live in the 

 infested area, otherwise you may have that questionable 

 pleasure. 



Many of the towns have made good headway already 

 this winter. The trees all over the moth country show 

 numerous black patches like fire burns, evidence of 

 treatment of gypsy egg masses. Gangs of men are out 

 collecting and destroying tip brown-tail moth nests. 

 Incidentally many neglected are receiving a much 



needed renovating, ami ill-kempt wood lots are being 

 cleared of the mass of worthless brush that accumu- 

 lates. "It is an ill wind that blows nobody good." 



British Horticulture 



SUCCESSFUL DAHLIA RAISERS 



In recent years Messrs. J. Strednick and Son have 

 distinguished themselves as raisers and exhibitors of 

 dahlias. Amongst their show triumphs last year was 

 the winning for the third time in succession of the 

 champion challenge trophy offered by the National 

 Dahlia Society. The first new introduction brought 

 out was Harry Strednick, which was distributed about 

 ten years ago. This was followed in 1898 by Night, 

 one of the daintiest blooms in commerce. Subsequent 

 introductions, which are now in many cases popular 

 with exhibitors, were Magnificent, Uncle Tom, Major 

 Weston, Mayor Tuppenney, Lord Boberts, J. Weir Fife, 

 Alpha, Geo. Gordon, Mrs. J. W. Wilkinson, Ella 

 Kraemar, J. A. Biding, etc. The firm's latest intro- 

 ductions are William Marshall, a rich orange with 

 bright yellow in the centre; Mrs. Macmillan, white in 

 centre, deepening to a beautiful pink at the tips; Vic- 

 torian, pinkish white, speckled with deep crimson and 

 purple; Frimrose, light sulphur yellow; Star, bright 

 bronze and yellow, etc. Tom Tit is a pompous cactus 

 variety of neat and attractive form. It produces even 

 when fully grown, diminutive flowers, but perfect exhi- 

 bition specimens of the cactus type. The tint is mauvy- 

 pink. The flower received a certificate when exhibited 

 last year. 



THE METHODS ADOPTED 



In Messrs. Strednick's trial ground there will be 

 about 800 plants set out this year. This ground is 

 planted from top to bottom, five feet apart, and four 

 feet in the row, eight plants in a row. The seedlings 

 are planted in May after the ground has been thor- 

 oughly prepared and manured. They plant out the 

 first week in June. The busiest time in sending out 

 orders is from the middle of April until June. Mr. 

 Strednick was asked the other day whether the cactus 

 dahlia had increased in popularity. "Every year," he 

 replied, "whilst the others diminish except in the 

 United States where quantities of doubles are brought. 

 The colonies and growers in Europe greatly prefer the 

 newer cactus. We sent a large box of bulbs to Tokio 

 by tin' last ship which went through the Suez Canal 

 before the late war." Questioned as to the secret of 

 their success Mr. Strednick answered that energy and 

 perseverance are the chief factors. The actual cultiva- 

 tion of the plants, such as watering, thinning, and tying 

 is done by Mr. Strednick and his son. 



ORANGE CULTURE 



Messrs. T. Bivers and Son at a recent meeting of the 

 Royal Horticultural Society showed what can be done 

 in the way of orange and lemon growing in this coun- 

 try. The Long Orange, Seville, Malta Oval, Malta 

 Blood, Citrus corniculata, Egg Orange, and St. 

 Michael's, were included, as well as the Bijou Lemon, 

 White Lemon. Sweet Lime, Citron and Shaddock. 

 Visitors to the nursery in March were able to see the 

 orangery in its must attractive garb, the evergreen 

 anil golden fruit making a charming contrast. It 

 rprising thai more attention is not given to this 

 subject in England, seeing that it affords such a wel- 

 come ornamentation to the conservatories in the dull 

 days of winter. Oranges can be as easily grown as 

 ntial factor being the provision of a lofty 

 house villi plenty of light and ventilation. Messrs. 

 Bivers have several houses set apart for the raising and 



