The Forest Cateepillak 137 



foes ; the little ichneumons and tachina flies were surprisingly numerous 

 and busy getting in their deadly work on the caterpillars. We hope and 

 believe that the enemies of the caterpillars can be depended upon to get the 

 upper hand and control the pest in the forests and sugar groves of New 

 York in a year or two." I believe that we may say the same of Vermont. 

 Certainly, if those interested will do all that they can to diminish the 

 numbers of caterpillars by the means indicated on the preceding pages we 

 have reason to hope that by the combined attacks of man and parasites 

 it will not be long before all serious injury from this insect will cease. 



SHOULD CATKHPILI,AE-EATEN MAPLES BE TAPPED ? 



This question is being asked frequently and earnestly. 



Whether or not to tap will depend upon circumstances of which the 

 sugar-maker is the best judge. His decision should be influenced by the 

 following considerations. The sugar is the reserve food of the tree stored 

 last season to feed the buds this coming spring. The amount of sugar taken 

 from an ordinary maple tree by tapping is from two to four per cent of its 

 total sugar content. This is so small a fraction as usually to cause no 

 appreciable loss to the tree. But if the leaves have been so badly eaten by 

 the caterpillars during the past seasons as to have its life endangered, it 

 might be undesirable to make even this small drain which would somewhat 

 decrease the chances of life for the tree. 



It is to be remembered, however, in this connection that all of the 

 stored sugar is manufactured in the green leaves in the summer and fall. 

 Now if the leaves were eaten by insects there would be proportionately 

 less sugar in the sap, and in case the damage to the foliage was really 

 serious, the sap might be so low in quality as regards sugar content that it 

 will not pay to tap the trees in any case. On the other hand, if there is 

 enough sugar present to make tapping profitable, then there is enough so 

 that the removal of the two to four per cent will not appreciably affect the 

 tree. 



It is believed, therefore, that the safest way for one who is in doubt is 

 to determine the quality of the sap from his trees, selecting several repre- 

 sentative trees and taking samples from these before tapping the remainder. 

 If the sap is of good quality he may safely tap. If, however, it is of poor 

 quality— that is, deficient in sugar— it will be both unsafe and unprofitable 

 to tap. 



The directions may be tersely put thus : Tap if there is sugar enough 

 to make it pay to do so. 



