412 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
DESTUOY EGG MASSES OF TUSSOCK MOTH AFTER 
LEAVES FALL 
T he cater})illar of the tussock moth, which is 
noticeable because of three long black tufts of 
hair protruding from its yellow body, has done 
considerable damage to many shade trees in Washington 
during the summer and fall. This insect, which extends 
through the eastern United States, as far west as low^a, 
seems to prefer poplars, maples, elms, alders, birches, 
and willows. Resides injuring trees, its barbed hairs 
occasionally produce considerable irritation on the skin 
of j)eoj)le upon whom the caterpillars drop. To control 
the ravages of this pest the coming season, the conspic¬ 
uous white-egg-masses laid by the moth, should be de¬ 
stroyed after the leaves have fallen, when they may be 
very easily noticed. 
The U. S. Department of Agriculture’s entomologist 
considers the above method preferable to that of banding 
the trees after the egg masses have already been laid. 
During the past season a number of trees in the city of 
Washington have been banded to prevent the moths from 
climbing up their trunks when there were already egg 
masses above the bands which hatched out caterpillars. 
These caterpillars were prevented from coming out of 
the trees as much as others were prevented from coming 
into them. Of course, if the owner of a tree is sure that 
it is absolutely free from egg masses (which are always 
conspicuous and usually are found low down on the 
trunk) he may use a band to advantage to keep out in¬ 
truders. For this purpose insect lime, of which there 
are several brands on the market, is the best substance 
ond a ring made around the tree will give service for 
several weeks in warm weather without being renewed. 
As soon as the leaves have fallen, egg masses should 
he scraped from the trees and then destroyed by burning. 
The work must be absolutely thorough, and not an egg 
mass overlooked. A better way, however, is to use appli¬ 
cations of creosote oil on the eggs. This is similar to the 
liquid that is used against the gypsy moth in Mass¬ 
achusetts. About 50 per cent, of turpentine is added to 
it to keep it liquid in cold weather. The workman is fur¬ 
nished with a pole, to the end of which a small sponge is 
tied. He goes from tree to tree, dipping the sponge oc¬ 
casionally into the creosote preparation and touching 
with it each egg mass found. This is a simple and very 
rapid method. As with the other method, the work must 
be absolutely thorough. 
There are two and probably three annual generations 
of the tussock moth in the city of Washington. In New 
York City and Roston there are two generations. A sec¬ 
ond generation will be more destructive than the first. 
The comparative harmlessness of this species as it goes 
farther noith is probably due to the nondevelopment of 
the second generation. 
In 1895, when the city of Washington was visited by 
an unusual number of these insects, one of the later gen¬ 
erations of caterpillars wdiich hatched about August 2, 
commenced to spin about September 3. During the lat¬ 
ter part of September most of the moths made their ap¬ 
pearance and the conspicuous wdiite-egg masses w^ere 
very abundant on the trees hy the first of October. Cat¬ 
erpillars hatching after the first of October are unlikely 
(Continued on page 415) 
P. OUWERKERK, 
No. 216 Jane St., Weehawken Heights, Hoboken, N. J. 
Rhododendrons, Clematis, H. P. Roses, Hardy Azaleas, 
Paeonies, Magnolias, Box Trees, Fancy Conifers, Hydrangeas and 
Shrubs, our specialties at our HOLLAND NURSERIES. Some of 
the goods on hand here during the packing season. 
SURPLUS CALIFORNIA PRIVET 
and 
ST. REGIS EVERBEARING RASPBERRY 
Our PRIVET is exceptionally fine-specimen plants¬ 
having been planted far enough apart to allow perfect 
development. Each plant measures from 1 to 1% feet 
through, 3^ feet high. 
We are headquarters for ST. REGIS. Write us for prices. 
F. W. BROW NURSERY CO., INC. ROSE HILL, N. Y. 
I I I- 11 about our large stock of Conifers, 
Lei us leii you Rhododendrons, Azaleas. Roses on 
Dogwood Briar and Rugosa. Boxwood, Japanese, Norway and 
Schwedleri Maples, Peonies. Phlox, etc., etc. 
KALLEN & LUNNEMANN, Boskoop, Holland 
15,000 FUTE PECAN TREES 
In addition to what will be required for our own planting, 
we expect to have for sale this season 15,000 stronsr, 
healthy, budded and grafted pecan trees, 4 to 6 feet sizes. 
Stuart variety. Wholesale prices. 
LOUISIANA DELTA PECAN COMPANY, 
B. C. ANDREWS, Secretary-Treasurer 
MARSHALL, TEXAS 
40 ACRES 
gressive, Aiuericus and other best 
everbearers. Oet acduainted 
offer for testing. Send us 10c 
for mailing expense, and we 
will Bend you 6 high quality 
everbearing plants (worth $1) 
and guarantee them to fruit all 
summer and fall, or money 
refunded. Oatalogue with his¬ 
tory FREE if you write today. 
THE GAftDNEa NURSERY CO 
Box 163 OSAGE, IOWA 
M. ROSTER Sl SONS 
Boskoop’s Largest Nurseries 
BOSKOOP, HOLLAND 
