170 



THE GYPSY MOTH. 



obviated by cutting the burlap once or twice from its edges 

 nearly to the twine on the side of the tree opposite the lapped 

 ends. This will facilitate the entrance of the larvae, as they 

 can easily push their way under the loose corners. If a 

 large cord is used to bind the burlap to the tree, there will 

 be more room left under the upper half of the burlap when 

 it is turned down. When the larvae are very numerous, the 

 burlap may be tacked on and pleats taken in it, to aflbrd 

 more room for the larvae to pass beneath. On large trees, 

 where the trunk is of irregular conformation, tacks will 

 be sometimes required to hold the burlap to the tree. 



To those familiar with the habits of the moth, other devices 

 which might serve a similar purpose will occur. Old tin 

 cans or wisps of hay or straw may be placed in the forks of 

 branches or near the roots of trees or beneath hedges to 

 attract the caterpillars, which may be then disposed of by 

 fire. Old blankets hung on fences or walls near infested 

 trees will collect great numbers of caterpillars. 



When caterpillars were found to be plentiful in shrub- 

 bery, stakes with pieces of burlap attached were frequently 

 driven into the ground in the midst of the bushes. This 

 made an attractive shelter for the caterpillars, and many were 

 assembled and destroyed. Burlap was often left in the forks 

 of branches or thrown over rubbish or stone heaps in badly 

 infested localities. If it was repeatedly examined, many 

 caterpillars were found and destroyed. It was early noted 

 that not all the caterpillars would come down from the larger 

 trees, such as street elms, but that some of them would 

 remain in the upper part of the tree. In such cases bur- 

 laps were banded about the trunk or branches at a height of 

 twenty or twenty-five feet from the ground. An examina- 

 tion of these burlaps necessitated the use of a ladder, but 

 the results often justified the time and labor expended. 



The only considerable expense required by the burlapping 

 method is that of labor. To secure the best results the 

 bands must be examined each day so long as any form of the 

 moth can be found beneath them. Old cloth will answer 

 the purpose equally as well as burlap. 



There are no valid objections which can be urged to the 

 use of burlap. There seems to be no injury to the tree 



