168 



THE GYPSY MOTH. 



strips were made into rolls which the workmen carried sus- 

 pended from the shoulder. Each man was provided with 

 a sheath knife. When a tree was to be " burlapped," the 

 end of a roll was passed around the trunk at a height of 

 four or five feet from the ground, and enough cut off to 

 encircle the tree and lap sufficiently at the ends to allow 

 for shrinkage. (See Plate XXXI.) The burlap was held 

 in place by twine tied around both tree and cloth. (See 

 Fig. 12, a.) The upper half of the burlap was turned down 

 over the twine, so that it hung like a tablecloth suspended 

 from a clothes line, and made a band of double thickness 

 around the tree. (See Fig. 12, b.) Although the edges 

 hung loosely, the centre was bound quite securely to the 



trunk of the tree. If the 

 trunk and branches offered 

 no better hiding-places to 

 the caterpillars, most of those 

 on a tree would crawl down, 

 morning after morning, and 

 seek the shelter of the bur- 

 lap, remaining there during 

 the greater part of the day. 

 When thus assembled, they 

 were killed by the employees 

 of the Board, who daily went 

 their rounds from tree to tree, raising each half of the bur- 

 lap separately and cutting or crushing the caterpillars be- 

 neath. Most of the larvae are found on the bark behind 

 the burlap, but some are taken between the folds. When, 

 in the search for larvae, the burlap is examined for the first 

 time, it is left turned up against the tree. At the second 

 examination it is turned down. It is turned up at the next 

 visit, down at the next and so on. By following this plan 

 any band that has been missed will attract attention. Ex- 

 perience indicates that the number of caterpillars taken is 

 not materially affected, whether the band is left up or down ; 

 yet for general use it should be turned down, as it sheds rain 

 better and presents a neater appearance. 



Where the caterpillars are massed, they may be quickly 

 crushed by a wisp of straw or a wad of old cloth. Where 



a. b. 



FIG. 12. Manner of applying the burlap. 



