172 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
Remedies. The simplest and most satisfactory remedy is found in 
gathering and destroying the egg masses. As the eggs are in a compact 
mass which is readily torn from the supporting cocoon, either by hand 
or some form of a scraper, the task is easily and quickly performed. Dr 
Howard has recommended the use of creosote oil for the destruction of 
‘he eggs, since each mass has only to be moistened with the substance. 
In winter it is necessary to add some turpentine in order to keep the 
creosote liquid. On account of the female being wingless, a tree once 
thoroughly cleaned will not become reinfested very soon if larvae are 
not abundant nearby, and even then a band of loose cotton bound 
tightly around the trunk will prevent their ascending and a consequent © 
reinfestation. It should be kept in mind that only the eggs must be 
collected or destroyed, on account of the beneficial parasites which may 
occur in cocoons not bearing egg masses. ‘This is specially true in the 
autumn and applies to a certain extent in the spring, since it has been 
shown that some parasites hibernate as larvae within the cocoons of the 
host, and if these are collected and destroyed, it means the death of 
many beneficial forms. ‘The egg masses are more readily seen after the 
leaves have fallen and in localities ike Albany, where one annual gen- 
eration is the rule, the gathering of the eggs may well be deferred till 
autumn. In the case of Boston, New York city and more southern 
localities, it may be necessary to collect in midsummer those laid by the 
first brood of moths. 
In case it is impracticable to collect the eggs, dependence must be 
placed upon spraying with some arsenical compound. This is satisfac- 
tory if properly done early in the season under favorable conditions. 
In many instances there will be more or less delay and in practice it is 
very difficult to have the spraying properly done, and then there may be 
hindrances incident to several days or a week of rain at the time the 
poison should be applied. 
Not a few wait till the trees show signs of serious injury and then 
ask for some means of stopping the ravages. Resort may be had to 
spraying with a larger proportion of poison in order to kill the larvae 
quickly or they may be shaken from the limbs, provided the tree is not 
too large. The latter means will give a certain amount of relief where 
practicable and may be made more effective by the use of cotton bands 
to prevent the ascent of those shaken from the tree. 
