240 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Banding Trees. 



As a preventive measure, banding the trees with mixtures 

 which the caterpillars cannot cross is effective, with this as 

 well as other insects. The method used in 1891 was an 

 improvement over the ordinary method of banding trees to 

 prevent the ascent of the canker worm. A coating of cotton 

 waste was placed about the trunk about five feet from the 

 ground ; a band of tarred paper was bound on this by a cord 

 which drew it close to the tree ; the upper edge of the paper 

 was then tacked to the bark. The paper was covered with 

 a mixture consisting of two parts of tree ink or canker-worm 

 exterminator, one part pine tar and one part residuum oil 

 (a product of petroleum). This will prevent the caterpillars 

 from ascending the trees, but must be renewed often to be 

 eflective. If the strips of tarred pajjcr are put on in this way 

 and kept wet with the mixture, they not only prevent the 

 ascent of caterpillars, and trap many of them, but they stop 

 the canker worm moths and the young canker worms. Insects 

 cannot crawl over or under these bands if they are properly 

 applied and kept constantly moist. 



In 1892 the committee procured for this purpose four tons 

 of " Raupenleim" or insect lime, which is prepared by cer- 

 tain firms in Germany, and has been used in that country 

 for some years for protecting forest trees from this and allied 

 insects. This lime was recommended by Professor Fernow 

 and Dr. Riley, both of the United States Dei)artment of 

 Agriculture, and was imported for the committee by the 

 Bowker Fertilizer Company of Boston. AVhen once properly 

 put on it remains in a soft and viscous condition for at 

 least two months. This Ihne is inexpensive and easily ap- 

 plied. The bark must be scraped or planed down to make 

 a smooth surface some five inches wide, extending around 

 the trunk, and high enough from the ground to be out of 

 reach of sheep or cattle if they are })astured near by. On 

 this surface the lime may be applied with a machine man- 

 ufactured for the purpose, or with a trowel, and nuist be 

 laid on heavily, otherwise too nnich of the oil contained in 

 it may be absorlx'd ])y the bark. It will prevent an inva- 

 sion of any crawling insect, and may be relied upon to pro- 



