172 



THE GYPSY MOTH. 



As Kollar resided in Austria, where the gypsy moth was 

 sometimes injuriously abundant, it is probable that this crude 

 means of assembling the caterpillars was used in destroying 

 this species with others. 



A few people in Medford who had observed the habits of 

 the gypsy moth had also used similar bandages with good 

 effect prior to 1891. (See statements of James Bean, page 

 29, and S. F. Weston, page 30, of this report.) 



The burlap bands are used most successfully on trees that 

 are well kept and in good condition, with sound and smooth 

 trunks and branches. If the trees were originally in such 

 condition or were first properly prepared for the work, the 

 moths were eradicated from many localities by the burlap- 

 ping method alone. When trees with decaying branches, 

 hollow trunks and rough or loose bark became infested, the 

 caterpillars often preferred the shelter offered by such cavities 

 and inequalities to that provided by the burlap. Many of 

 them would not come down the tree to the burlap until the 

 cavities were filled or covered, the dead branches cut away 

 and the loose outer bark removed by scraping. It was 

 necessary also to remove rubbish, weeds and brush from the 

 ground about the trees. 



There are, therefore, four auxiliary processes (all beneficial 

 to trees or grounds) which must be resorted to to ensure 

 the greatest measure of success in the use of burlap. They 

 are : judicious pruning or trimming of trees ; treating and 

 filling cavities ; removing loose bark ; removing and de- 

 .stroying rubbish, undergrowth and weeds. 



Pruning Infested Trees. 

 To any one who has critically examined any considerable 

 number of orchard or wayside trees in this Commonwealth, 

 the insertion here of an exhaustive treatise on the pruning 

 and care of trees would seem of great utility. This, how- 

 ever, is not the function of this volume. It is our purpose 

 to consider here only: (1) the proper removal of dead, de- 

 caying or broken branches, which, if allowed to remain, offer 

 hiding-places for the gypsy moth and other injurious insects ; 

 (2) the removal of clusters of small shoots or suckers, which, 

 growing thickly on the trunks or larger branches, offer shel- 



