38 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



of injury. The latter, we believe, is due in large part to the in- 

 creased vigor of the vines on the heavier soil. Cultivation is an 

 important factor in keeping this pest in check, particularly if opera- 

 tions are so planned that the surface soil under the vines is thor- 

 oughly stirred at a time when the majority of the insects are in 

 the pupal or " turtle " stage. The general efficacy of good cultural 

 conditions is further emphasized by the fact that though this insect 

 occurs in certain vineyards in the Hudson river valley, we have 

 yet to hear of serious injuries in this latter section due, we believe, 

 largely to the fact that high cultivation and good feeding has been 

 the rule for some years. 



Spraying the vineyards, particularly if a bordeaux mixture is 

 employed, is exceedingly beneficial, not only because of the insects 

 destroyed but on account of the protection afforded from fungous 

 diseases. It is by all means advisable to use a poison in the bor- 

 deaux mixture, since this destroys a certain number of root worm 

 beetles and is also very efficient in killing the first generation of the 

 berry worm, Polychrosis viteana Clem. 



Shade tree insects 

 White marked tussock moth (H e m e r o c a m p a 1 e u c o - 

 stigma Abb. & Sm.). This destructive leaf feeder was very 

 abundant in a number of cities and villages throughout the State 

 last year and in some places it was present in considerable numbers 

 the past season, despite the fact that many of the conspicuous white 

 egg masses were collected and destroyed. The trees of the city 

 of Albany were pretty thoroughly cleaned, partly by individual 

 work and partly by the newly appointed city forester and his 

 men. This insect nearly stripped many horse-chestnut trees in 

 th-e city of Buffalo and was more or less destructive in a number 

 of other cities and villages. These attacks occur from year to year 

 and yet no determined efforts are made to check the nuisance. This 

 species, as has been stated many times, is very easily controlled 

 either by removing and destroying the egg masses or by timely 

 sprayings with an arsenical poison. The habits of this insect are 

 such that it would be comparatively inexpensive to so thoroughly 

 clear large districts, that there would be very little danger of injury 

 for a series of years, and so far as individual trees or groups of 

 trees are concerned, they can be protected without reference to 

 the condition of those adjacent unless the branches interlock. All 

 that is necessary under these conditions is to remove the egg masses 



