174 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



ern and southwestern parts of the State. As it was an off bear- 

 ing year the orchards of Maine were shamefully neglected. 

 Tent-caterpillars were allowed their <jwn way, and it was com- 

 mon to see nice orchards badly eaten, and from one to several 

 tents in a tree. 



The abundant crop two years ago, and consequent low 

 prices, the small crop of last season, with small returns, com- 

 bined to discourage fruit growers and cause the neglect of 

 orchards. We believe in periods of ten years, that the orchard 

 is the best paying part of the farm. To turn the orchard over 

 to the ravages of insects and fungi in off bearing years is a 

 short sighted policy. 



In a shy bearing year, trees have the opportunity to regain 

 vigor from overbearing and lay up material for full bloom the 

 following year. Nourishment is elaborated by the leaves and 

 therefore foliage-eating insects sap the vitality of trees. The 

 best time to strike insects that attack the fruit a hard blow, is in 

 shy bearing years, when the food supply is limited. 



By the neglect of orchards last year, tent and forest-cater- 

 pillars will be abundant this season. 



We are glad to know that orchardists are becoming impressed 

 by the fact that the best way to cope with tent-caterpillars, 

 especially in young orchards, is to gather the egg clusters dur- 

 ing the winter, or when the leaves are off. 



The indiscriminate destruction of all kinds of eggs found 

 attached to the limbs of apple trees would be bad policy, as ben- 

 eficial and injurious insects would suffer alike. It would be but 

 little trouble to send specimens of egg clusters found to the 

 Station and learn which kinds should be protected. Several 

 parties have availed themselves of this privilege the past season, 

 and in all cases among the lots of eggs sent were several 

 cocoons of beneficial Ichneumons. 



Beech-bud Insect. We received from Mrs. Florence W. 

 Jaques, Farmington, Maine, a lot of beech buds that were killed 

 by an insect. They were the terminal buds, and had turned 

 brown. An examination showed that the young leaves had 

 been eaten and that the insect had made his exit by boring a 

 small round hole through the scales near the base of the bud. 

 This insect must do its work early in the spring, as the speci- 



