12 FARMERS' BULLETIN 564. 



HAND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING THE BROWN-TAIL MOTH. 



The brown- tail moth can be controlled by cutting off the winter 

 webs and burning them before the caterpillars begin to emerge in 

 April. These 1 webs should be destroyed by fire, for if they are simply 

 out from the tree and left on the ground the caterpillars will emerge 

 and no benefit will result from the Work which has been done. 



In orchard practice it is sometimes inadvisable to cut the winter 

 webs, for where an infestation is bad it is likely to leave a poorly 

 shaped tree. Spraying in the spring is not a satisfactory remedy 

 unless the infestation is very light, because the caterpillars, when 

 they occur in large numbers, do not allow the tree to put out suffi- 

 cient foliage to hold the spray material. The most effective method 

 is to spray the trees before the middle of August, using from 6 to 10 

 pounds of arsenate of lead to 100 gallons of water. Before spraying 

 operations of this sort are attempted care should be taken to deter- 

 mine whether the trees are well infested with egg masses of the 

 brown-tail moth, for if the infestation is very slight it will be more 

 satisfactory to cut and destroy the webs. If the infestation war- 

 rants, both shade, ornamental, and fruit trees may be sprayed to 

 advantage at this time. Caution should be used, however, in spray- 

 ing fruit trees, particularly if early fall varieties are to be treated. 

 If this is to be done 1 a somewhat weaker spray solution may be used, 

 provided it is applied as soon as the caterpillars begin to hatch. The 

 foliage should be treated thoroughly, particularly the terminal shoots, 

 and as much care as possible should be exercised not to cover the 

 fruit. Late fall or winter varieties of fruit may be sprayed in 

 August with arsenate of lead, using 6 pounds to 100 gallons of water, 

 and although an occasional spot may be found on the fruit at the 

 time of picking no injury will result from it. In cases where only 

 a few choice fruit trees are to be sprayed it is practicable to wipe 

 the fruit before packing for sale; but this is not necessary if care 

 is taken to treat the terminal growth of the trees, as this is where the 

 bulk of the egg clusters is deposited. 



GENERAL HAND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING THE GIPSY MOTH. 



Creosote. One of the best methods of controlling the gipsy moth 

 is to treat the egg clusters of the insect between August 1 and April 1 

 with creosote, to which a small amount of lampblack has been added. 

 This mixture is applied with a brush, and it leaves a black residue on 

 the clusters treated. Creosote may be obtained in small quantities 

 from nearly all the large hardware or seed stores in the infested dis- 

 trict, where it usually sells for about 35 cents a gallon. If secured 

 in larger quantities a much lower price can be obtained. 



