4 8 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
tion of the prevailing winds and has been rapid and wide 
to a long distance up the Maine coast and into New Bruns¬ 
wick. This insect is an unwelcome visitor as it multiplies 
veiy rapidly and is a general feeder particularly on apple, 
pear, plum and other fruit trees as well as upon many shade 
trees, shrubs and roses. 
For the ten years that the nursery inspection laws of 
New York State have been in force no nests of brown-tail 
moths have been found until this winter. None of the 
Inspectors of other states outside of New England have 
ever found any infestations of brown-tails. Interviews 
with practical nurserymen and their workmen are con¬ 
vincing that they never saw nests of this insect in importa- 
Caterpillars of Brown-tail moth. 
tions of stocks from abroad in the last twenty or thirty 
years. We may assume therefore, that the conditions 
found this winter are without precedent and that there 
must have been a very large outbreak of brown-tail moths 
in Europe in sections from which the present importations 
are coming. 
The Discovery. 
On the first of January, Commissioner Pearson received 
a telegram from Prof. Slingerland stating that he had 
identified some live brown-tail moths in a nest that had been 
sent him. On receipt of this information the inspection 
force of the Department was set to work to make a special 
examination of imported stock. Nests of brown-tail moths 
were found in a few boxes. Notice was sent to each 
nurseryman in the state who was expected to receive 
foreign stock, to hold their boxes unopened until an in¬ 
spector could be present. 
Information of the fact that infested stocks were coming 
from abroad was sent to each state having horticultural 
inspection laws. Orders were given to the New York 
State Inspectors to be thorough in inspection of every 
stock, to burn all nests found and to burn all packing boxes 
and material and to treat stocks among which nests were 
found with an approved formula. 
Infestation. 
In the first three weeks in January, the Department has 
inspected about 200 boxes and found about 900 nests. 
Several hundred more boxes are to arrive and it is expected 
every one destined for New York State will be found and 
inspected. The kinds of stock on which nests have been 
found are viz: apple, pear, cherry, plum, quince, roses, 
Japan quince, amelanchier and birch. 
There is no cause for alarm over the situation if the 
Department can have the cooperation of all persons in¬ 
terested. The conditions are fully understood by the 
Department and 
an adequate force 
of inspectors is 
on hand to attend 
to the inspection. 
The nurserymen 
are lending their 
aid and it is be¬ 
lieved that what 
might be a serious 
matter will be 
averted. 
Any nursery¬ 
men receiving 
stock from abroad 
should at once 
notify his state 
inspectors of the 
fact. Any little bunch or cluster composed of dry leaves 
and silky threads should be carefully examined or sent to 
the inspectors for identification. No expense should be 
spared to prevent the establishment of this pest in or 
near the nurseries. A little care at this time may save 
an expenditure of large sums in the future. 
CONFIDENTIAL. 
•It look's a good deal like a Confidence game. Confidence 
Restored. Confidence in the powers that have been. Confidence 
in those to be. Confidence financially, politically, economically and 
religiously. Confidence in ourselves. Confidence in the United 
States of America. 
Confidentially, we want to do business with you. Whenever in 
the market for Hammer Planished Sheets, give us a chance at 
your business. You can confidently rely upon good goods and a 
square deal. 
Yours very truly, 
Ward-Dickey Steel Co., 
W. C. Dickey, Sec. and Treas. 
“We like the Nurseryman and hope to know it better in the 
future. Our nursery business is better than ever. We are looking 
forward to the spring business, expecting fully a third more business 
than usual.” 
John A. Cannady, 
Carrollton, Ills. 
