December 1, 1906 



HOKTI CULTURE 



583 



The New Imported Japanese 

 Insect 



Early this your Hold inspectors employed by the 

 Gypsy Moth Office brought in a number of very inter- 

 esting small cocoons on twigs of pear, maple and other 

 trees found iu the Dorchester section of Boston. These 

 cocoons were elliptical, about one-half inch in length 

 by one-third of an inch in diameter, dull gray in most 

 cases, in others beautifully stiiped witli seal brow^n and 

 white. Not recognizing the insect I sent specimens to 

 Professor C. H. Fernald at Amherst, Mass., who at 

 first was unable to place them. The specimens were 

 taken by him to Washington, where the authorities 

 seemed equally in the dark concerning tlie insect. Later 

 a large quantity of cocoons was sent to Professor Fer- 

 nald, and as soon as the moths emerged he was able to 

 identify them as ilyresa flavescens Walk., a Japanese 

 insect. A further examination of the district where the 

 specimens were found showi'd that they occurred prin- 

 cipally in the vicinity of a nursery, where a large quan- 

 tity of Japanese shrubs had been grown in recent 3'ears. 

 The insects were undoubtedly imported on these shrubs, 

 and escaped and have become colonized in this section. 

 Professor Fernald writes me that this moth occurs in 

 Amurland, Japan, central and northern China, and 

 Corea. 



While the life history of the moth has not yet been 

 carefully worked out, it is known that the winged in- 

 sect emerges in early summer, and that the caterpillars 

 upon the approach of fall spin up in their characteristic 

 cocoons, lie dormant through the winter, and pupate 

 the following spring. The cocoons have been found on 

 several species of maple, the American and Wahoo 

 elms, hackberry, hawthorn, apple, pear and quince. Dr. 

 H. G. Dyar, who has also studied the insect, reports 

 it as occurring at San Francisco and also in Hamburg, 

 Germany, to both of which places it was undoubtedly 

 brought on nursery stock. 



The local press has been prompt to exploit this insect 

 as a possible new pest of trees, but the writer is ex- 

 tremely doubtful if it shall ever prove injuriously 

 abundant. The cocoons are conspicuous objects, and 

 even in Boston w^here native birds are very scarce it is 

 not at all difficult to find numerous cocoons which have 

 been opened by the birds and their contents devoured. 

 While the occurrence of the insect is of considerable 

 scientific interest, particuhirly as showing the ease with 

 which such forms are transported on nursery stock, 

 there is no evidence to show that it wnll prove a pest in 

 the generally accepted meaning of the term. Doctor 

 H. T. Fernald has recently made an examination of the 

 infested district, and is now preparing for early publi- 

 cation a brief bulletin giving all the facts concerning 

 it. Should the insect prove over-abundant at any time 

 it can no doubt be easily controlled by spraying with 

 arsenate of lead. 



A. H. KIEKLAND, 



Supei-inieiulenf. Gypsy Moth Work. 



Specimen Chrysanthemum 

 Mutual Friend 



Five and one-half feet diameter, 315 blooms, 

 by James Garthly, Fairhaven, Mass. 



Grown 



Symplocos crataegoides 



Late iu September or early iu October when mir 

 native trees and shrubs are bedecking themselves in 

 their autumnal splendor, this Asiatic shrub greets us 

 with its offering of bright blue berries. Although in- 

 troduced into this country from Japan some thirty- 

 five years ago, it is, even today, seldom seen in our gar- 

 dens and but little known. It is a broad shrub with 

 spreading branches and attains a height of six to eight 

 feet. The leaves are dark green, of good texture and 

 apparently free from the attacks of insects. The 

 flowers appear in abundance, usually late in May or 

 early in June, and are attractive for a week or so. The 

 individual flowers are nearly one-half inch in diameter, 

 white, sweet-scented and borne in panicles. Follow- 

 ing them comes a profusion of fruit. When mature 

 this is about the size of a pea and of the brightest ultra- 

 marine. It remains in good condition until touched 

 by a severe frost when its charm of color vanishes. Yet 

 it is true that its abundance may be somewhat reduced 

 by the birds which are fond of its tasteless flesh. 



Although the habit is good, the foliage pleasing and 

 the flowers attractive, it is the fruit which makes this 

 I)lant particularly desirable. Xot only is the color of 

 the berry uncommon to shrubs, but it is so clear and 

 pure that it at once challenges your attention and 

 arouses your admiration. 



With all these merits and without drawbacks to its 

 cultivation, Symblocos cratiPgoides should certainly be 

 used in all plantations containing the better class of 

 shrubs. 



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