New York AGricuLtturRAL Experiment Station. 293 
time previous. Dr. Lintner” recorded the appearance of the cater- 
pillars in great numbers in Washington Co., in 1889-90. They 
were especially destructive to maple trees. Again in 1893 he 
referred to their ravages in the apple orchards in certain sections 
of the State. During 1896 and 1897 the caterpillars were abun- 
dant throughout the Central and Northeastern part of the State 
and during the two following years there were several important 
outbreaks in some of the timbered sections. 
THE RECENT OUTBREAK IN THIS STATE. 
Its extent.—Although as previously indicated the forest tent- 
caterpillar is far from being a newcomer in the State we are 
unable to find any records which indicate that it has ever before 
occurred in such great numbers over so wide an area within our 
borders. ‘To ascertain approximately the extent of the outbreak, 
letters of inquiry were sent to correspondents in nearly every 
county in the State. From the data thus secured, together with 
personal observations in some of the most seriously infested sec- 
tions of the State, the accompanying map has been prepared 
(Plate XX). This map is intended to show only approximtaely 
the area that was most seriously infested. It is not improbable, 
however, that the caterpillars occurred scatteringly throughout 
the entire State as they were seen in more or less abundance 
from Long Island to Buffalo and along the most Northern 
boundaries of the State. The outbreak was most severe along 
the Western, Northern and Eastern slopes of the Adirondacks, 
the valley of the upper Hudson, the Mohawk valley, the Catskill 
region, in the southern part of Onondaga and Madison, and 
throughout Cortland, Chenango and Otsego counties, and in the 
Upper Genesee valley. 
Special reports from wmfested localitves.— During the season 
reports were received from correspondents in localities where the 
caterpillars were abundant. These reports together with similar 
facts gained by personal observation are of value principally 
11 Lintner, J. A. Sixth Report, p. 106. 
