1 6 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I913. 



"The death and destruction of spruce forests were reported to us at 

 Rockland, Me., and at Calais, Me., the destruction having been observed 

 by Mr. Sewell at the latter town in 1879. From these facts there is 

 good reason to suppose that perhaps a third of the spruce and fir forests 

 from near Portland to Calais have been destroyed by insects, most of 

 the work of destruction having been accomplished four or five years 

 ago, during 1878-79. 



"Similar damage has been done at points ten or twelve miles from 

 the sea and in the interior of the State. The injury was especially 

 noticed in North Topsham, near the Bowdoinham line. According to 

 the statements of Mr. Willis, the agent of the Feldspar works in North 

 Topsham, forwarded by Dr. C. A. Packard of Bath, Me., the spruces 

 were in 1879 attacked by borers and also by small caterpillars, 'not 

 measuring worms' (probably like those observed by Mr. Alexander at 

 Harpswell.) The trees thus defoliated leaved out, becoming green 

 again ; and in 1880 and 1881 the evil seemed to be diminishing, as has 

 been noticed at other places. 



"Further facts regarding the extent of the ravages of the spruce 

 bud-zuonn in Maine. — The following facts regarding the extent of the 

 ravages of this caterpillar on the coast of Maine were gathered during 

 the summer of 1883, and for want of space omitted from the report 

 published in that of the Entomologist of the Department of Agricul- 

 ture. 



"The westernmost locality at which the spruce bud-worm was ob- 

 served was on Peak's and other islands in Portland Harbor, the spruce 

 not extending in any great quantity west of that city. The spruces 

 about Sebago Lake were also destroyed by this worm or a similar 

 caterpillar, in 1878, as we are informed by Rev. Mr. Kellogg, a Mr. 

 Townsend being his authority. Around the shores of Casco Bay and 

 on many of the islands, especially Birch Island, Orr's Island, Jewell's 

 Island, and Great or Harpswell Island, also on Harpswell Neck, Mere 

 Point, Prince's Point, as well as other peninsulas extending into Casco 

 Bay, wherever the spruces and firs grow thickly, extensive areas of 

 these trees were observed ; also similar masses of dead spruce were ob- 

 served along the Maine Central Railroad, from Portland to Brunswick, 

 and thence to Bath ; also on the shores of Cathance River, at and near 

 Bowdoinham, Me. Wherever the fiords or narrow bays and reaches 

 extend inland, in Cumberland and Sagadahoc as well ns Lincoln Coun- 

 ties, the spruce and fir forests clothing their shores had been invaded 

 by this destructive caterpillar. Wherever the spruces were abundant 

 on the Kennebec River, below Bath, particularly on the eastern side, at 

 and near Parker's Point, and also at and west of Fort Popham, there 

 were extensive patches of dead spruces. Similar but smaller masses 

 of dead spruce were observed along the steamer route from Bath to 

 Boothbay Harbor, at and to the eastward of Southport ; none were 

 observed on Mouse or Squirrel Islands. In the course of a journey, 

 at the end of July, from Brunswick along the coast to Eastport, we were 



