47 



is probably due to lack of funds, for the society is intelli^'cutly uiaii- 

 aged, and its officers know liow to kill insects, even if they are una])le 

 to do so. 



It seems likely that the very existence of such a society is an 

 inducement to citizens to leave such matters as cateri)illars to the 

 society, and in this respect the AVashington plan seems better, although 

 on account of its newness it is too early to judge of its workings. The 

 plan, in brief, is to form a tree-protection league among the citizens. 

 This is no formal league or society; it has no meetings, and its mem- 

 bers have no way of knowing who the other members are except by 

 looking for results. The matter has been taken up by one of the daily 

 papers, and in every issue the following coupon is published in a 

 prominent place : 



Times Tree Protection League — Memhership coupon. 



Believing that much of the beauty of our national cajjital is derived from its 

 famous wealtli of sliade trees, and that these trees are now in danger of destruction 

 by their natural enemies, >- ^ * j i^ereby promise to do all I can to protect tlie 

 tree or trees in front of or bordering on my place of residence, and for that purpose 

 submit my name for membership in the Times Tree Protection League. 



Name, . Residence, . 



Whether this plan succeeds in Washington or not, it has great merit, 

 and as a means of arousing i)ublic sentiment at least it is well worth 

 trying in other cities. 



No cities in the world exceed in the beauty derived from shade trees 

 those of the New England States. Nowhere in this country are to be 

 seen more beautiful elms, and mai:>les in i)articular, than in these New 

 England cities, and no efibrt should be si)ared to preserve their beauty. 



THE ELM LEAF-BEETLE IN WASHINGTON. 



By C. L. Marlatt. Washington, I). C. 



In the grounds of the Department of Agriculture are a number of 

 very interesting and instructive collections of various forest trees, nota- 

 ble among which is the elm grove, containing thirty or forty trees, 

 representing many species and varieties, largely of foreign origin. For 

 many years back this grove has been regularly defoliated twice annually 

 b}^ the elm leaf-beetle, most of the trees, however, surviving, albeit 

 making little growth. Kandom efforts have been made from year to 

 year to protect the trees, but without any notable success, and the 

 superintendent of the Department grounds had reached the conclusion 

 that there was no practical remedy and was discussing the removal of 

 the grove entirely. The present season the elms were placed in the 

 hands of the Division of Entomology, which was made responsible for 



