The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-07-22
LOCAL AFFAIRS.


RAvAeEs op rus BARK Lousg. We mon
tioned in these columns some timc ago, the
ravages of this insect upon the maple trees
in this city. Miss NJ. b. Shellman wrote 10
Rev. John G. Morris, OF Lutheryille, Balti.
more county, upon the subject, sending him
a twig for examination. Ia reply he addres.
sed IL her the subjoined letter, which Mss
Shellman has kindly furnished us for pabli.
cation;
Luthsrriiie, baltimore Co., Jitly II.
Miss SHEIINAS The insect which YOU
sent me belongs to the old gems eoccns, hut
which has been greatly modified by modern
writers. We are content 10 employ the old
name when we speak popularity Of It, for by
that designation it is generally known. It
belongs TO the same genus as the cochineal
insect which furnishes, you know, a very val
liable dyeing material. The common English
name is not quite so elegant, bearing the un.
savory cognomen Of Bark Louise, which,
however, is quite expressive Of its character
and habits. More than go species have been
described by naturalsts. The whole race is
injurious to various species Of fruit and forest
trees, and forms good portion of every State
Entomologist's report.
The species differ in size, color and habits.
Some OF them exude mealy substance and
others cottony material, like the enc you
sent They all belong to the sub-order no.
mOpterd, they are covered with n sort of cara.
poce like turtle, md iujure trees by piercing
the limbs with their sharp hdasteiium or beak
and thus interrupt the regular flow of sap.
Almost all our shade and fruit trees are in
tested with one or the other species and draw
| from them as it were their very life.blood,
and they retard their growth, IL they do not
totally ruin them.
The eottony material which your species so
abundantly secretes serves rs u protection To
the numerous eggs laid by the female, which
is wise provision. This material is nearly
insolnble or wholly so, and thus no rain or
cold can injure the precious treasure which
it covers. When the eggs are Matched, the
hungry larva at once commences its work of
mischief underneath this cottouy protection
and continues its depredations through all
the stages Of its development. 1t is not u
beautiful object under maguifer but still
very interesting. They multiply rapidly by
millions and hence are so injurious. Some
species completely cover the limbs aud twigs
of trees, and unless they are destroyed, their
ravages are incalculable.
Fruit growers employ various methods Of
determination, such as scraping their trees
or drenching them with strong decoctions
of lye aud tobacco, remedy which could
hardly be applied to tall naples, unless q
powerful fire engine or something equivalent
were employed. But there is a compromising
Providence, which kindly delivers us from the
continuous inaiction of these pests. Proba.
bly, next year you will not be annoyed, and
perhaps you will be exempt for several years
until that wonderful law of periodicity again
claims its prerogative, and reproduces the
same annoyance from which we had hoped
final deliverance.
| could say much more concerning this
coeeHs, but enough for the present.
Our Academy Of Sciences some time ago
talked of inaugurating series of meetings
in the various towns OF the State, beginning
with Westminster, but for the prevent, the
design is abandoned. We intended delivering
short lectures on the Natural and Civil history
of the vicinity and inviting cooperation in the
object Of the Academy. With great respect
Yours, &c. JN0. G. NORRIS.