SECOND REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 1905 



43 



in the East, and it is a pleasure to state that our earlier studies 

 in the method of preparing this wash have been fruitful of good 

 results, since experience shows that the prolonged boiling originally 

 insisted upon is unnecessary. We have also demonstrated the 

 possibility of making a reliable wash with lime and sulfur by cm- 

 ploying only a little hot water together with a small amount of 

 sal soda, a substance that is both cheap and easily obtained. This 

 preparation is particularly efficient where but a few trees are to 

 be treated. 



Grape root worm. This pernicious enemy of the vineyardist is 

 generally distributed throughout the Chautauqua grape region 

 and has been under observation during 1905 for the purpose of 

 corroborating in a general way the results of earlier studies given 

 in Museum bulletins 59 and 72, special attention being paid to 

 the danger of its suddenly invading a vineyard in immense num- 

 bers and inflicting serious injury. Certain vineyards were severely 

 damaged in earlier years and these have been carefully watched for 

 the purpose of obtaining accurate data as to the practicability 

 of restoring them. This can undoubtedly be done to advantage 

 where there is serious injury of but one year's standing provided 

 relief measures are prompt, though it is doubtful whether this is 

 true where hosts of grubs are allowed to work two seasons in 

 succession. 



Gipsy and brown tail moths. These two imported insects have 

 become well established in Massachusetts. The gipsy moth is now 

 well known as an extremely voracious enemy of fruit and forest 

 trees. Its spread is slow, as this species, on account of the female's 

 inability to fly, must rely very largely for dissemination upon the 

 eggs or caterpillars being carried from place to place by the 

 movement of animals and the usual means of transportation, 

 such as carriages, automobiles, electric and steam cars, etc. 

 There is grave clanger of its being brought into New York 

 State at any time. The brown tail moth, a more recent 

 introduction, flies readily and has already made its way to the 

 Connecticut valley. Like its associate, it is a greedy leaf feeder, 

 living by preference upon our more valuable fruit trees and at the 

 same time displaying a fondness for the foliage of such shade trees 

 as maples and elms. These two insects are so destructive that a 

 close watch has been kept upon developments in the infested 

 territory, so that our citizens may not be taken unawares. In 

 addition, comprehensive illustrated accounts appear in the En- 

 tomologist's report for the current year. 



