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NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



belts near the top to stock the trees with a liost of leaf consumers. At 

 best, the collection of eggs can hardly be regarded as more than one of 

 several repressive methods, no one of which can be depended on by itself 

 to prevent serious injury. The egg belts can be seen best on a bright day 

 and if there is snow on the ground, it will be easier to hnd all cut twigs 

 dropped to the ground. The collection and burning of the eggs is neces- 

 sary in order to insure thorough work. A long handled pruning hook is of 

 great service in cutting off the infested twigs. 



As soon as the presence of the young caterpillars (indicated by the 

 thinness of the foliage on the upper branches) is detected, much ran be 

 accomplished by crushing them as they collect on the limbs or by dislodging 

 them with a brush or torch. If the latter is used, care must be exercised- 

 not to injure the tree. Many caterpillars can be jarred from trees by 

 using a padded mallet, or even violent shaking will cause some to drop. 

 Ridding the trees of caterpillars by jarring or otherwise, must be fol- 

 lowed up by some means of preventing their ascent. A band of cotton 

 batting 8 to lo inches wide tied tightly in the micUlU; around a tree and the 

 upper portion turned down over the string and allowed to hang loosely, is 

 a tlifticult obstacle for caterpillars to surmount, so long as it remains dry. 

 Wide bands of paper coated with tar or of sticky lly paper will also prevent 

 the pests from ascending for a time. A band composed of equal parts of 

 lard and sulfur is said to be an effective barrier. In one locality bands of 

 cottolene were usetl to jjrevent the caterpillars from climl)ing the trees. 

 ' It is safer to put lard, cottolene and similar oily preparations on close fit- 

 ting paper bands rather than to apply them direct to the trunk. When 

 the pests are very aljumlanl it will not do to depend entirely on shak- 

 ing and bands, the dropping creatures must be collected on sheets spread 

 under the trees before they are jarred, and then killed, or crushed as they 

 collect under the liands. Nothing but the most vigorous measures will 

 protect a badly infested tree from severe injury. The masses of caterpillars 

 found on the larger limbs and trunk can be crushed in large numbers with 

 a stiff broom or thickly gloved hands. .\ more agreeable method is spray- 



