: 
ave MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
In many parts of the state bee keepers suffered greatly from the inroads 
of these caterpillars, because hungry hordes of them removed the last 
trace of the flowers of basswood, a bountiful source for honey. 
As a general rule the invasions by the later species do not repeat them- 
selves so frequently, otherwise the insect would form one of our most dan- 
gerous enemies to our shade and forest trees. Of the immense numbers 
of caterpillars seen everywhere last spring, the great majority died in 
consequence of a disease, and but comparatively few escaped destruction 
and transformed into moths. A close inspection of the trees in several 
badly infested neighborhoods shows that very few eggs have been laid, 
so that a repetiton of the trouble during the coming spring is not likely, 
at least not in the inspected regions. 
As to remedies we can do but very little if the caterpillars are so num- 
erous as they were last year. It would be almost impossible to reach 
them with any of the arsenical poisons, and the necessary thorough appli- 
cation would cost too much for labor, time and material. Yet we should 
not permit the defoliation of the shade trees near our homes. Even with- 
out the use of any poison, a little attention and labor would have been 
sufticient to protect such trees. As a very general rule the caterpillars 
rested, closely packed together, upon the lower part of the trunks of trees 
infested by them, and a stiff broom will soon put an end to their further 
depredations. An application with kerosene emulsion was tried repeat- 
edly, but had but little success, as the caterpillars are well protected by a 
‘velvety skin, that does not permit intimate coating with any fluid. Good 
pyrethrum seems to be a scarce article in our drug stores, at least the ma- 
terial bought as such acted more like harmiess flower, than as the article 
it was sold for. Spraying with any of the arsenical poisons, such as Paris 
green, or London purple, would have been very useful, at least for valu- 
able trees that should be protected at almost any reasonable cost. De- 
stroying the eggs is a very feasible method upon orchard and other low 
growing trees, but is out of the question with forest trees. The rings of 
eggs are readily seen during the time that the trees are bare of leaves, 
and as easily removed. 
Both species of Tent-caterpillars haye but few enemies among the ver-- 
tebrates. Birds will not eat them, with the exception of our two species. 
of Cuckoos. The other insectivorous birds do not fancy the hairy and vel-. 
vety coats of the caterpillars, and will not even make a trial. Skunks— 
which of course should not be classed with birds—enjoy a mess of these 
worms, and seem to increase their odoriferous qualities by feasting upon 
such food. This is at least the opinion held by my family of the particu- 
lar skunk that invaded the neighborhood during the caterpillar season. 
Only alarge beetle (Calosoma frigida) hunts and kills many of these cater- 
pillars, and ought to be protected. 
DISCUSSION. 
Dr. Frisselle: I have no faith in paris green. I have tried . 
it, and it has been afailure with me. The only way that I can — 
get rid of these worms is to take a cup of kerosene and a little 
stick with a rag wrapped around the end of it, and go gently up 
