132 DA VET'S PRIMER 



You have heard of the elm leaf beetle that has 

 worked such destruction on the fine old elm trees of 

 New England. Here is a "cut," furnished by the 

 United States government, showing how the pest 

 appears. 



You observe the eggs as they are carefully glued 

 into the leaf by the moth that lays them, and you can 

 see the larvae (or caterpillars) at work, eating away the 

 soft portions of the leaf. So numerous did these be- 

 come in New Haven, that they were tramped into a 

 slush as they dropped on the sidewalk so they told 

 me and they threatened the life of the gigantic 

 trees ! They found, however, that in the fall of the 

 year the caterpillars crawled into the belfries, and the 

 garrets of the houses and they swept up bushels of 

 them and burned them. 



This you see, proved a " preventative " ; for every 

 pupa that had been allowed to hatch out and become a 

 moth would have laid thousands of eggs, again to be- 

 come caterpillars to destroy the leaves. 



Children : don't scold because you have such things 

 to contend with ; for even these caterpillars are beauti- 

 ful, but we must not allow that which is pretty to exist 

 if they prey upon and destroy that which is more use- 

 ful and beautiful the trees. Presently, when you 

 read about the birds, you will see how the pupas, larvas 

 and moths are useful, in their place, as food for birds 

 and it is the privilege of man to be a real " Lord of 

 Creation," and turn all forces to his own benefit and 

 to the glory of the Creator. 



