1910
June 10
(No 7)
[July 10, 1910]

  The "wilt" began to show itself this year in
June, at least three weeks earlier than we 
noticed it last year. When I left
Concord at the end of the month it had
done very great and general service. Since then
it has wrought fearful and almost universal
horror, over much of my land. On the crest of Ball's Hill
and in the woods east of the Ritchie's place
I found the "wilted" caterpillars hanging
in solid masses as broad as my two hands
on the trunks of some of the oaks. If but
lightly touched they would burst open sending
down a trickling stream of chocolate-colored
liquid having a peculiarly offensive odour.
In these and other places there seemed to
be not enough left to do the least harm another year.