New Yorx AgricutturaL Exprriment Sration. 291 
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT. 
The forest tent-caterpillar is considered a native of Kastern 
North America. We do not know how long it has been depre- 
dating the forests, but its ravages have been noted for more than 
a hundred years. One of the first authentic references” to it was 
in 1797 with which account probably the first figures of the cater- 
pillar and cocoon are given. That the insect was then known to 
be a very destructive one is indicated by the statement of Mr. 
Abbott that it “is sometimes so plentiful in Virginia as to strip 
the oak trees bare.” As a natural result of the settlement ot the 
country, the clearing of the land and the planting of orchards, the 
depredations of the caterpillars gradually became more noticeable. 
It is not probable, however, that it was considered a very serious 
pest in the orchard until 1841, when Harris’ mentioned it briefly. 
in 1844 the same writer discussed* it more at length, referring 
to it as “* a new depredator of the orchard ”’ as if he considered the 
habit of feeding upon the foliage of fruit trees a newly acquired 
one. Like most other insects this species undoubtedly had its 
periods ot abundance and decline, but of this there is little positive 
evidence in the early references to it. Harris’ again mentioned 
it in 152 as an apple pest, as did Litch® in 1856 and 1858. ‘There 
appears to be no further indication of extensive injury until 
1366 and 1867, when the caterpillars again became very abun- 
dant, especially in western New York. Since then there have 
been frequent accounts of their ravages all along the Atlantic 
States, tlie outbreaks usually being confined to quite limited 
areas. Some of the most important of these were in Maine in 
18638, 1867, 1874, 1875 and in 1889; also in South Carolina in 
1891 when the caterpillars appeared upon the forest trees in 
almost incredible numbers. During the past three or four years 
J hocatene Gaunt 
2Smith and Abbott. Insects of Georgia, p. 117. ) 
8 Harris. Insects Injurious to Vegetation. Ist ed., p. 271. 
4 New England Farmer, 5; 412. 
5 Harris. Insects Injurious to Vegetation. 2d ed., p. 291. 
6 Fitch, Second and Fifth Reports on the Insects of New York. 
