The evening times., 1895-08-09

Public interest in the peril to the city 9
beautiful shade.ess been generally aroused
by the publication in to-day's Morning
Times Of the sacrifice of the White House
elms
Dead branches, gaunt and naked among
the trees. is common sight in every sec
ton of the city. Where the elm beetle has
not visited the caterpillars are at work
and the danger seems to be daily increas-
ing.
| Citizens gen orally feel provo ked at
the condition of affairs regarding the ne
glect in the protection OF the trees. This
feeling has gone so far that some Of them
insist that IL the District government can
not provide means for protection, then
the matter win have to be taken in hand
by individuals.
Capt. Austin, of the Metropolitan po-
lice, says he has heard much complaint
regarding the havoc on the trees by in
sects, and knows OF many who have impro-
vised methods OF preventing the total
destruction of their trees.
CASE FOR THE PEOPLE.
MI IL ". 1oNtcs Is very CmphutN On "
the better protection of the trees. which
constitute so much OF the beauty OF Wash
ington, and says il the District authorities
cannot protect them, then the people will
have to provide a remedy.
If the parking commission has not suffi-
cient means 10 rid the parks and streets of
the pests, then the citizens will take the
matter in hand themselves.
Mr.. Walter williams concurs In Mr..
Towles' views, and adds that this condi-
ton of affairs has continued so long that
many of the beautiful trees which adorned
the side walks have been destroyed. and in
some instances the spaces left by their re-
moval have never been filled.
Mr.. L. o. Howard, the entymologist of
the Agricultural Department, was seen by
a Times reporter to-day and questioned
about the destructive beetle which, as told
in to-day's Morning Times, has laid 10 " the
White House shade trees.
HABITS OF THE BEETLE.
L. o. Howard, entymologist OF the Agri-
cultural Department, was seen by Times
reporter to-day, and asked regarding the
habits OF the beetle.
1.-The elnl-leaf beetle" he said, ais
particularly in South Germany, Austria
and France. II was imported into this
country in 1887, and its earliest attacks
were particularly severe about Baltimore
aud in New Jersey. It's spread in this
country has been comparatively slow
aud, while wherever 1t has appeared it has
established itself very firmly aud now
frequently occurs In enormous numbers, 1t Is
go, TO the Middle Atlantic seaboard.
'The larvae from eaca batch of eggs
feed together somewhat Gregariuusly for
a time, but ordinarily become separated
and scattered later, especially with a
scantiuess of food. When full grown they
normally crawl down the branches to the
trunk ard then to the ground, pupating
almost Immediately on or very uear the
surface of the soil, just about the base OF
the tree. They are apt to seek partial
protection about grass punches, but fire.
Quently accumulate in masses, exposed
on the surface in such a manner as to
make a striking yellow carpet about the
tree from a few inches to foot or more
wide. With very large elms however, many
of the larvae are shaken off by winds or
fall directly to the ground, sometimes
fairly covering the surface over diameter
equal to the linIb-expanse of the tree"
TOO LATE TO STOP IT.
With regard to the shade trees along the
streets which come under the Jurisdiction
of the parking commission, Mr.. Howard
said that IL the commission had sufficient
funds at the critical time, the second or
third week in May, when the beetles OF
the first crop begin to la y their eggs, the
greater part of the damage could be prevent
ed by one OF two sprayings with solution
of paris green or arsenate of lead.
When, however, the early spraying has
been neglected q great deal can be accom-
nlished by sending q few men around later |