40 



1899 are of interest. At that time over nine hundred thousand webs 

 were destroyed at the total outlay of nine thousand seven hundred 

 dollars. 



Sjrraying. — Spraying is very effective against these insects ; in fact 

 they are much less resistant to the action of poison than is the gypsy 

 moth or elm leaf beetle. To secure best results spraying should be 

 done as soon as the foliage develops in the spring. Five pounds 

 of the arsenate of lead paste to one hundred gallons of water is suffi- 

 cient, or, if preferred, one pound of good Paris green kept well stirred 

 may be applied in one hundred and fifty gallons of water. 



Where the caterpillars swarm from trees along fences or on house 

 walls the use of kerosene emulsion or strong soap suds is advisable. 

 Fall spraying with arsenate of lead is also effective, but the feeding of 

 the caterpillars at that time of the year is usually of minor importance. 



Little good can be done in the way of collecting the eggs or trapping 

 the moths by light, although many of the mature insects are destroyed 

 by arc lamps. There is no method of combating the brown-tail moths 

 that will give better results for the outlay than the destruction of the 

 Avebs in the winter season, and this if thoroughlv carried out will be a 

 sufficient protection against damage by the insect. Cases will arise 

 where the caterpillars swarm from adjoining estates, and where this 

 occurs banding the trees with some sticky material as heretofore de- 

 scribed will protect the foliage from harm. 



Systema/ic Control. 

 ' Both the gypsy and brown-tail moths can be conti'olled by a thorough 

 campaign over the infested municipalities. The work of the former 

 gypsy moth committee has shown that the damage and annoyance from 

 these pests can be practically eliminated hj the application of thorough 

 remedial measures over the entire infested districts. It is greatly to 

 be hoped that some effort to systematically control the spread of these 

 pests may be instituted, to the end that property owners may be sj^ared 

 the annual visitation of the caterpillar scourge. 



Until then, however, eternal vigilance is the price we must pay if our 

 trees are to be preserved. 



