134 Bulletin 76 



prevent tliem from going back. As the worms do not creep up the trees 

 after the last of June and usually not after the middle of that month there 

 is no need of keeping bands on the trunks after that time. 



A great variety of materials have been used with more or less 

 success. No one form of band, or particular substance spread upon 

 the bands, appears better than all others. Several sorts appear to be 

 about equally effective. There is more difference in the cost of different 

 kinds than in their utility. The common sticky fly paper was extensively 

 used in several of our larger towns last season and, so far as I could see, 

 was very convenient, and effectually prevented the caterpillars from going 

 up the trees. Bands of tarred paper smeared with lard or any grease, are 

 good. Home persons mixed sulphur with the lard, but I do not think 

 this of any additional value. Burlap bands, around which is placed a 

 strip of tar mixed with two parts of oil, are cheap and effective if the tar 

 smear is not too narrow. It should be at least three inches in width. 

 Tar alone, either coal or wood tar, soon hardens and then the worms go 

 right over it. The caterpillars can seldom cross strips of cotton wool if they 

 are three or four inches wide ; but if this material is used it must be carefully 

 adjusted and well fastened to the trunk, or the wind will break it so that 

 spaces through which the caterpillars can creep will be exposed. The neat- 

 est bands ofthis sort that I have seen were made of strips of sheepskin 

 tanned in the wool. These appeared to be efficient and they certainly 

 presented a much more tidy appearance than any other bands. There are 

 two patented compounds of, I judge, coal tar and other substances, which 

 are easily applied on bands and remain fresh for some weeks. These are 

 Dendrolene and Raupenleim. They can be placed directly on the bark of 

 the tree if it is not too young, in which case it may injure the tree and should 

 be put on a paper or other band. On old trees the rough bark may be 

 scraped smooth in a belt three inches wide around the tree and then the 

 mixture smeared on with a knife or stiff brush. Probably the Raupenleim 

 is the better of the two though Dendrolene is cheaper. The former can be 

 bought of William Menzel & Co., 64 Broad St.,N. Y. for $1.00 per five pound 

 can or of the Bowker Fertilizer Co., Boston. The chief objection to the 

 use of this material if applied directly to the trees is that it remains a disfig- 

 urement for a long time. A strong potash wash will, however, remove it. 

 If paper bands are first placed about the trees and the Raupenleim 

 put on these the objection does not hold, for, of course, these can be re- 

 moved at any time ; on the whole this is the safer way to use the mixture. 

 Various forms of metal bands have been tried, but it is doubtful whether 

 any such band can be furnished as cheaply as the equally effective kinds 

 just mentioned. Mr I. H. Neill of Waitsfield writes that he has used 

 strips of tin four inches wide with good results. He nails those to the 

 trees on the upper side leaving the lower side flaring two or three inches 



