Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-07
EIm.Leaf Beetle.



Secretary Morton says that TT Is
great pjty that the elm shade trees In
MANY of our eastern cities from Rich
mond north to Albany, are every year
allowed to be defoliated by the imported
elm-leaf beetle. BY the middle or June
each season many trees arc lett without
a whole. leafs Their general appearance
is unsightiy and their vitality rather Sc
,iouslv checked. Experiments made in
Washington and in Central PARK, New
York. show that this insect can be very
easily fought
Please let me know what Is the remedy
for this defolation. "
For an answer we quote from Circular
No. s, second series, United States De-
partment of Agriculture, Division OF En-
tomology. as follows:
In nearly every stage or the
life-history OF this insect 1t is easily sub
iect TO treatment. The best means
against the adults and larvae consist In
the use of arsenical posons In the form
Of sprays on the foliage. The adults. for
a week or two after emerging, feed on the
newly-expanded foliage, and spraying
with Paris green or other arsenicai VIII
destroy the great majority OF them rs
pecial pains should be taken to accom-
plish the destruction of the insect In this
stage. in order to prevent the partial
disbursement which will result If the
matter be delayed until the larvae begin
to appear II rains interfere with spray
ing for the adults, or If 1t be neglected,
the trees should be sprayed with arseni-
Gals promptly on the first appearance Of
the larvae. and the application perhaps
renewed a week or ten days later espe-
| cially IL rains have intervened.
Paris green Is the best arsenical, and
may be safely used on elms at the rate
| of pound to 100 to 80 gallons Of water.
| If London purple be used. an amount OF
| lime equal to the poison in weight should
! be added TO combine with any free arse
mic and prevent scalding OF foliage. The
| liquid should be applied with strong
force-pump with a long hose and noz-
zle, such az the Vermorel or Nixon.
which will make fine. mist-like spray.
In spraying for the larvae it Is very es-
| sential 10 thoroughly wet the lower side
| Of the leaves, on which they principally
| feed. In the case of the adults, this is
| not so necessary, because they eat the
! entire substance Of the leaf. and will get
the poison from either side.
on elms IS or 20 feet in height the treat
ment can be made from the ground or
| from wagon. For larger elms II will be
necessary to climb up into the tree. using
| a hose 90 to 100 feet long, and directing
the spray by this means into the upper
| branches BY removing the spray tip
| from a large size Nixon nozzle, SO as to
get a direct discharge. the upper branches
! Of comparatively tall trees may be reach
| ed and sprayed In more or less salts
| factory manner. In the case OF very
| large elms In city parks or streets Che
use Of stronger apparatus may be advisa-
! BILE. such as fire-engine or steam-pump.
| and a larger nozzle. such as graduatin3
| spray tip, capable Of throwing either a
direct stream or spray. During spraying
| the poison should be constantly stirred TO
| prevent 1t from settling to the bottom OF
| the tank.
The first effort should be to destroy the
I beetles and larvae at their earliest appear
ance, to save the trees for the current
| year, Sometimes, however. larvae In the
| tons OF tall trees will escape. and, when
! ever from inefficient spraying or neglect
| they are allowed to reach maturity. a
strong effort should be made to destroy
1 the insect when Il reaches the ground to
| transform, and thus limit or prevent
| damage from the second brood or on the
! following year The collection Of the
| larvae for pupation. frequently In ep0r-
NOUS numbers Immediately about the
base OF the tree. makes It comparatively
! easy 10 destroy them in this situation.
This may be accomplished either by wet
| ting them with boiling water or with
kerosene emulsion. diluted about four
| times Frequently they may be collected
| by hand or shovelled up. and burned or
! otherwise destroyed.
i Remedial treatment is much simpler In
Y the northern areas OF the range Of this
insect, where II 10 single brooded, and be-
! comes more difiicult In the southern dis
| tricts, where the number Of bruods ID dou-
| hiSd J and the appearance Of the insect