The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-08-05

killing the Hemlock.


BKADFoRD, Aug. 2-Potter county Is al
harmed, and with good cause, over the raya-
ges Of a worm that Is destroying the foliage
and killing of the hemlock timber. Only
about five days ago il was noticed By lum-
herman that the tops Of the heavy timber
on the mountain were turning brown as
though the tres were dying. The trees
looked exactly as though they had gone
through forest fire or were withering up
for lack of irrigation. An investigation was
at once set on foot by the lumbermsn inter-
ested, and it was discovered that the affected
trees were covered with myriads of worms.
The worms were eating the green and ten
der foliage Of this years growth, and when
that had disappeared turned their attention
to the growth of the preceding year, the
woody twig not being touched
A remarkable scene is presented in the
"choppings where the bark peelers are at
work. The worms are swarming about the
men by the millions, while on all the tres
from Coudersport to Port Allegheny miles
and miles of trees are turning brown, and
ruin is threatened to the vast lumber inter
ests of that section.
IT Is LITTLE WORN.
The worm that is doing the damage is Of
the measuring worm species, about an
inch long, and barely an eigth of an inch in
diameter The depredaiions are taking in
such a vast area that experts have already
been placed on their track, and the follow
ing accurate description is furnished:
The worm is covered with spots on each
side. and has ten legs, six in front and four
awkward props behind. In moving ii arch
Is its back, hence the vulgar name Of
measuring worm. The appearance Of the
worm in such vast numbers is unprecedent-
ed in this region, and grave fears are enter
tained in Potter county that the forage Of
the worm means the entire destruction of
the growing timber and injury to the old
trees
An effort has been made to stop the ad-
vance of the worm, but il IS too late this sea
son to even make an effort toward saving
the bark, and the timber is already greatly
damaged. Reports from Glen Hazel, Elk
county, and from the east side Of that coun-
ty, state that the same worm, in countless
numbers, is devastating the hemlock there.
TOTAL DESTRUCTION THREATENED.
As II Is said that the continued ravages Of
this worm mean the total destruction Of
young hemlock and the Gripping Of the
standing timber and drying up lis bark, a
crisis confronts the whole population Of the
entire henloek region ofNew York and
Pennsylvania, as the worm IS steadily ad-
vancing and spreading and owing to the
great numbers working destruction with in
conceivable rapidity. Not only the lumber
men are concerned, but the tanners, farmers.
railroad men, and in fact everyone, for this
is pre-eminently hemlOck region from FL
mira, n. Y, to Punxsutswney, Pa, thou
sands of men being employed in the bark
and lumber interests and millions Of capital
! invested.
The life Of the worm is from four to SIX
weeks, when its death gives birth TO ily or
gnai. They are exceedingly yOraeious, and
during the brief period of their existence eat
several thousand times their own weight Of
growing vegetation. Though this horde Of
worms may only be transient visitation,
still there is nothing known here Of them or
their ravages. even the Oldest lumbermen
stating that they had never seen them be
fore. Some of the worms, with specimens
Of their destructive work, have been sent to
the Agricultural Department at Harris burg