EXTERMINATION. 



247 



The Success of Local Extermination, 

 The work of extermination was begun on the principle 

 that, if the moths could be exterminated from one tree, they 

 could be eradicated from any number of trees, providing the 

 same kind of work that cleared the first tree could be carried 

 on simultaneously over a large area. It was soon found that 

 the moth could be cleared from trees of ordinary size by 

 honest, thorough, intelligent labor. Yet many doubters 

 asserted that it was impossible to clear the larger trees. 

 Medford, being one of the oldest towns in the State, had 

 many very large elms. This was also true of Maiden. It 

 was believed by some of the residents that it would be im- 

 possible to clear the moths from these trees except by the 

 aid of a balloon. The largest tree in the infested region was 

 selected for trial of the possibility of extermination. This 

 tree is situated on the property of the Messrs. Dexter of 

 Maiden, and stands in front of the old Dexter mansion. 

 The tree has been owned by this family for more than two 

 hundred years. If not the largest tree in the State, it is 

 one of the largest.* Early in 1891 an attempt was made 

 to clear the moths from the tree, and a gang of four men, 

 who had had some experience, went to work upon it to 

 destroy the eggs of the moth. After working for several 

 days upon the tree they reported it cleared. Another gang 

 of men was put at work upon the tree, and six hundred 

 additional egg-clusters were discovered. Notwithstanding 

 this, caterpillars appeared in the spring upon the tree. It 

 was then sprayed thoroughly, an extension ladder sixty-five 

 feet in length being used, together with several additional 

 ladders placed in various parts of the tree. Later in the 

 season all the holes in the limbs were covered or filled, and 

 the few egg-clusters found were treated with creosote oil. 

 In 1892 the tree was banded with tarred paper, which was 

 kept constantly moist with a mixture of tree ink, tar and 

 oil. A few caterpillars were found, however, on the tree, 

 having hatched probably from scattered eggs left in the 



* The Dexter elm has the following dimensions : circumference at base, 29 feet ; 

 circumference six feet from ground, 21 feet ; height, 110 feet ; spread from north- 

 east to south-west, 104 feet. Some of the branches of the tree are 3 feet in 

 diameter. 



