24 FARMERS' BULLETIN 845. 



woodlots of this character at moderate expense. It is true that 

 in considerable areas of oak woodland the trees, although not mature, 

 could be utilized for small timber, railroad ties, or cordwood, and in 

 cases of bad infestation such woodland should be cut promptly if 

 the wood can be sold to advantage. On cheap cut-over or infested 

 lands in many sections of the territory planting of white pine might 

 be done to advantage, but as this involves considerable expense 

 and as the future crop can not be harvested for a period of years, 

 the question as to the desirability of managing any wood lot in this 

 way must in the end be decided by the owner of the property. 



The presence of the chestnut-bark disease or the white-pine blister 

 rust in a locality should receive due consideration before plans are 

 made for planting or encouraging the growth of either of these 

 species. 



If the practice common in some European countries of maintaining 

 municipal or State forests were well developed in the New England 

 States, it would be possible in a period of years to transform con- 

 siderable areas of land which are now destined to be worthless, and 

 which form a favorable feeding ground for the gipsy moth, into 

 well-managed forests of valuable growth. 



METHODS OF CONTROLLING THE BROWN-TAIL MOTH IN WOODLAND. 



The damage caused by the brown-tail moth ordinarily is not so 

 severe as is that resulting from gipsy-moth infestation because the 

 former species does not have so wide a range of food plants and, 

 further, because the bulk of the feeding is done early in the season 

 so that the trees have an opportunity to recover before midsummer. 

 In the territory where both insects exist the caterpillars of the gipsy 

 moth supplement the work which is done by those of the brown-tail 

 moth and the injury, therefore, is increased greatly. The large areas 

 of oak-sprout growth furnish abundant food for brown-tail moth 

 caterpillars, and as a result enormous numbers of the moths develop 

 which migrate each season to the cities and towns and render it 

 necessary for hand suppressive measures to be put in force each year. 

 The area reinfested in this way depends largely on the prevailing 

 winds during the month of July when the moths are flying. Elimi- 

 nation of oak, scrub apple, and wild-cherry trees would assist greatly 

 in reducing the numbers of this pest. 



STATE WORK AGAINST THE GIPSY MOTH AND THE BROWN-TAIL 



MOTH. 



Each of the New England States is carrying on work for the con- 

 trol of these insects. The organization varies because of local con- 

 ditions, but the same general methods of field work are employed. 



