THE APPLE-TREE TENT CATERPILLAR. 9 
the work to the orchard as a whole. This work may be combined 
with pruning to good advantage, and a lookout should be kept not 
only for the eggs of this insect but for the eggs and cocoons of other 
injurious species which pass the winter on the trees. 
Practical illustrations of what may be accomplished in collecting the 
egg masses of this species have recently been reported by Prof. 
Myron A. Cobb, of the Central State Normal School at Mount Pleasant, 
Mich. The tent caterpillar was present in unusual numbers in north- 
western Michigan during the season of 1913, and egg masses were 
eénsequently very much in evidence the following winter (1913-14). 
Through circulars issued to the rural schools, the school children were 
interested in the collection of egg masses, with surprisingly successful 
results. A special “apple-tree tent-caterpillar week’’ was desig- 
nated and other means adopted to carry out effectively the campaign 
against this insect. The total number of egg masses collected through 
the work of the school children was variously estimated at from one 
million to several million. A few specific examples may be cited. 
In Wexford County 250,000 egg masses were reported to have been 
collected. At Greilickville, 20,443; Bungham School, Grand Tray- 
erse County, 17,940. At Elk Rapids the Business Mens’ Association 
offered prizes for the greatest number of egg masses destroyed. This 
also was done at Old Mission and 65,784 egg masses were collected, the 
prize going to Carl Ostlind for 11,044 egg masses taken. 
Since each egg mass contains on the average some 250 eggs, the 
benefits from this work may readily be calculated. 
There are great possibilities for the accomplishment of much effec- 
tive work in the control of this and other insect pests by the enlist- 
ment of the services of children in rural schools, and the work is a 
practical application of science for the benefit of agriculture. 
DESTROYING THE CATERPILLARS. 
Neglect to search out the egg masses during the winter will result 
in the appearance of the larve about the time the trees are putting 
forth foliage. The nests, at first small, are soon so increased in size 
as to attract attention. If the caterpillars are destroyed as soon as 
the small nests are detected, this will prevent further defoliation of the 
trees, and the rule should be adopted to destroy them promptly as 
soon as discovered. In this work either of two practices may be 
adopted, namely, destruction by hand or with a torch. 
When in convenient reach, the nests may be torn out with a brush, 
with gloved hand, or otherwise, and the larve crushed on the ground, 
care being taken to destroy any caterpillars which may have remained 
on the tree. 
The use of a torch to burn out the nests will often be found con- 
venient, especially when these occur in the higher parts of trees. An 
asbestos torch, such as is advertised by seedsmen, will be satisfactory, 
or one may be made simply by tying rags to the end of a pole. The 
asbestos or rags are saturated with kerosene and lighted and the 
