LACKEY MOTH. 23 



The caterpillars seldom do the enormous quantity of mis- 

 chief with us that they are noted as causing in France, where, 

 according to the old law, it was compulsory on proprietors to 

 have the webs on the shoots cut off with shears and destroyed, 

 in consequence of the ravages of the caterpillars (if left un- 

 checked) ruining the Apple-leafage over an extent ef miles 

 of country ; nevertheless their attacks are often the cause of 

 much loss in this country, and need attention. 



Prevention and Eemedies. — Some good may be done by 

 looking for the rings of eggs on the shoots, cutting these off 

 and destroying them ; also by destroying any yellow silken 

 cocoons that may be found about the trees, or near them, but 

 these methods are tedious, and, though they are of use where 

 just a few trees can be carefully tended, are of little service 

 in orchard treatment. 



A far better way is to tvatch for the wehs, and, as soon as 

 they are seen, to carry out the old French method and cut the 

 shoots through with a pair of nippers and destroy the web- 

 nests and their contents. But where the plan of destroying 

 the caterpillars in their webs is adopted, care should be taken 

 that this is done when the caterpillars are ivitMn them. 

 It should be done on an overcast, wet day, or early or late, 

 and it is best for two people to carry out the work. One man 

 should have a pail with some fluid in it, — water and paraffin, 

 or fluid mud with a little paraffin, or anything, in fact, that 

 will prevent the caterpillars that fall in, rambling away. If 

 the pail is held by one man, so that the web-nest cut off by the 

 other falls into it, this is an excellent remedy for such part of 

 the attack as may be in reach. In any case, measures should 

 be taken to prevent stray caterpillars returning up the stem 

 of the tree to the leafage. 



A less troublesome but less complete method is to shake 

 the boughs, or strike them smartly, so as to make the cater- 

 pillars drop, and sweep those that dangle by their threads in 

 the air down with the hand. These may be trampled on, or 

 gas-lime, quick-lime, or anything that will kill them, may be 

 thrown on them ; but it should be done at once. 



Spraying the infested trees is of service with this as well as 

 with other orchard caterpillar attacks ; for observations on 

 which see notes under the head of " Winter Moth " ; also re- 

 ferences to " Paris-green," " Soft-soap Washes," &c., in Index. 

 The Lackey Moths harbour in long grass and leaves on the 

 ground, and, therefore, keeping the trees clear of a neglected 

 undergrowth of weeds and rank herbage, such as is too often 

 seen in uncared-for orchards, is a useful measure of prevention. 



To what extent birds should be encouraged is a matter for 



