PARK AND CEMETERY . 
f 
:5T3 
SYSTEMATIC CAMPAIGN AGAINST INSECT PESTS 
'I'he model work for tree protection 
carried on by the Shade Tree Commis- 
sion of East Orange, N. J., has frequent- 
ly been referred to in these pages, and 
its systematic, scientific and careful 
methods furnish admirable material for 
detailed study. 
The methods of procedure in making- 
war on the insect pests of the trees has 
been particularly thorough and success- 
ful. This was the most extensive and 
important work done by the Commis- 
sion last year, and the series of oper- 
ations is detailed at length in its last 
annual report from which we show sev- 
eral illustrations. 
With the limited equipment at its dis- 
jiosal the results were remarkably good, 
THE 'tVOOLLY MAPLE SCALE, SHOWING THE INSECT IN THE COCOON 
CONDITION COl-I.ECTED IN MASSES IN THE CREVICES OF THE 
BARK OF THE SUGAR MAPLE: ABOl'T NATi’RAI. SIZE. 
and the methods used against the Elm 
Leaf Beetle were completely successful. 
March 10 the Commission issued a cir- 
cular to residents having elm trees on 
their property, which read as follows : 
Last year the attack of the elm trees hy 
the elm leaf beetle was severe throughout 
the city. The trees on the streets and on 
private properly that were sprayed by the 
Shade Tree Commission had their foliage 
preserved; while those trees on private 
property that were neglected were defoli- 
ated. According to the state entomologist, 
the indications are that the ravages of the 
in.sect this year will be more serious than 
during the last. 
The Shade Tree Commis.sion is making 
extensive preparations to spray all the elm 
trees on the streets as soon as the foliage 
develops in early May. To destroy the pest 
most thoroughly, it is important that the 
citizens give attention to elm trees on their 
grounds which are outside of the jurisdic- 
tion of the ^^hade Tree Commission. 
The winter of the elm leaf beetle is passed 
in the adult conditions, the beetles taking 
shelter in attics, sheds, barns and other 
places of a similar nature. They emerge 
from their hibernating qrtarters as soon as 
the foliage of the elm develops in the spring, 
take to the leaves and eat holes through 
them. During the latter part of May and 
early June, eggs are deposited by the beetles 
on the under side of the leaves, from which 
caterpillars hatch. These feed on the layer 
of cells of the under side of the leaves, 
giving the foliage a skeletonized appearance. 
Beginning during the last days of June 
and continuing until the mhldle of .July, the 
full grown larvae, which are less than half 
ail inch long, crawl down the trunk and 
chang'e to yellow pupae at the base of the 
trees and on the ground near it. Adults 
develop about a week after the formation 
of the pupae, and in the latter part of Jul^ 
the summer brood of beetles is abundant. 
These fly to the leaves again, feed on 
them, deposit eggs, and the life cycle of the 
insect is repeated. There are two broods ft 
year. 
The only effective way to control the elm 
leaf beetle is to spray the foliage with 
arsenate of lead as soon as the leaves un- 
fold. This spraying is important, because 
if the beetles can be killed before they lay 
their eggs thei*e will be no larvae to deal 
with later. 
It is this early spraying to catch the adult 
beetles that the Shade Tree Commission is 
planning to do, and it is expected that all 
the. elms along the curb will be treated. 
To spray elm trees properly, so that the 
lops of the trees are reached, requires a 
powerful apparatus which every citizen can- 
not be expected to have. 
The Shade Tree Commission has therefore 
decided to accommodate property owners 
and spray such elm trees on their private 
property as can l)e reached from the street 
or from a driveway when the general spray- 
ing of the other treees is done. A charge 
of two dollars per tree will be made, which 
must be paid to Louis McCloud, receiver of 
taxes, in advance. 
If early spraying is neglected, an applica- 
tion of arsenate of lead is necessary when 
