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it tomore general city use. Probably the largest elm tree in America, 
the Dexter elm at Medford, Mass., has been successfully and eco- 
nomically sprayed by the Gypsy Moth Commission. It is necessary 
to have especial apparatus constructed, and it is equally necessary to 
have the work done by men who are accustomed to it or at least are 
good climbers. The first successful work of this kind was probably 
that done by Prof. John B. Smith, on the campus of Rutgers College. 
He had a strong barrel pump, and carried the nozzle at the end of a 
long rubber tube, with a bamboo extension pole, up into the center of 
the trees by climbing a ladder to the main crotch. From this point 
the spray was thrown in all directions, and the tree was thoroughly 
coated with the mixture in a minimum of time. 
The Gypsy Moth Commission, in their earlier spraying work, sent 
their large tank carts through the streets, stopping at each tree and 
sending one or more men with hose and extension poles into it, thus 
covering hundreds of large trees in a single day. If steam sprayers 
are used (and the town or city fire engines can be and have been used 
to excellent advantage in this way), the necessity for climbing the 
trees may be largely avoided. By means of multiple-discharge hose 
both sides of a tree, or even of two trees, may be sprayed at once, 
and the extent of territory that may be covered in a day is surprising. 
The elm trees in a small park may be treated economically and with- 
out much difficulty by two or three men with a handcart tank. This 
method has been adopted on the large grounds of the Department of 
Agriculture with absolute success. 
The writer’s experience at Washington leads to the conclusion that 
it is important to spray trees once just after the buds have burst. 
This spraying is directed against the overwintered beetles. If a large 
proportion of these beetles can be destroyed by poisoning the leaves 
which they eat, not only will a great deal of leaf perforation by the 
beetles themselves be prevented, but the number of eggs laid will be 
very greatly lessened. A second spraying should be conducted two 
weeks later. This is directed against the larvix, the majority of which 
will perhaps have hatched by that time or soon after. A third spray- 
ing, and even a fourth, or under exceptional circumstances a fifth, 
may be required if it is considered necessary to keep the trees fresh 
and green, and particularly if the earlier sprayings have been followed 
by rains, as is apt to be the case in the earlier part of tle season. In 
Bridgeport, Conn., where only a part of the trees are sprayed and 
these by private enterprise, an even greater number of operations 
have been found desirable. Three thorough sprayings of all the trees 
in a given precinct will probably be as much as will be required, 
especially if this be done year after year and some pains be taken to 
destroy such of the larvie as may successfully develop and descend 
for transformation. Even two sprayings, covering all the elms of a | 
city or town, will be well worth the expense. 
