The morning times., 1895-08-09
BEETLES KILL The Trees
Several of the Beautiful White
House EImS Cut Down.
OTHERS ARE TO FOLLOW
In All Pa rts of the City the Destructive
Pests Have Carried on Their Raw
ages-Seem to Thrive ON Bug
Poison-PeoPle Generally Much
Excited About 1t.

Nearly all, il not all, the big English elm
trees Ill the southern part OF the White
House grounds have been killed by a small
worm somewhat resembling the ordinary
caterpillar. Three of the trees Were cut
down yesterday and the others VIII follow
this week. Probably a dozen viii be re-
moved
Every effort was made to eradicate the
worms, but, although liquid solutions OF
blue stone, paris green, and other poisOns
were used pientifully, the attempts re-
suited III failure. Strange 20 say, al
though the pest attacked the American
eims and trees Of other varieties III I he park,
none of these species suCcumbed ami were
deserted by the worms, " hich apparently
did not like the leaves for food.
Enough worms to fin large bucket have
been taken from some Of the trees which
were cut down The elms VIII be replaced
by shade NAPLES.
There is evidence every where in the city
that the deadly elm beetle is about to ex-
terminate hundreds OF the most beautiful
trees on the streets and in the parks.
To look at a great many of the elms one
would think that the chill OF autumn had
already begun to give them the sere and
yellow leaf, and others exhibit whole
branches of leaves which have been perfo-
rated and warped by the sun and lingering
death.
The rayages of the elm tree beetle are
painfully evident in the White Houseg rounds
where the English varieties have suffered
the most, on Sixteenth street, near II, along
y street, from Tenth to Sixteenth and on
G street, from Tenth to Fifteenth.
Everywher however, the silent destroy
ers are at work. stripping the branches Of
their foliage and exhausting the Hfe-Sus-
| tanning power of the sap.
HISTORY OF THE BEETLE.
Quite recently The Times published au
article in which was given history of
the eIm's arch enemy aud in which the
statement was made that there were no
funds available in the Department OF
Agriculture for the determination Of the
| elm beetle, which is responsible for the
| destructive work.
1t appears to be one of the pests that re-
| CARDS as deIectable food the poisonous cids
and powders which destroy other insects
| This Industrious and omniverous villain
| feeds on paris green, blue stone, carbolic
| acid, and could doubtless escape the effects
| of South Carolina diSpenSary whisky.
| 1t does not confine its nippers to the elm
/ On New Hampshire avenue there are spots
where it is defouating the maple as well
as the elm, and in Lincoln park there are
some poplars which are suffering.
On G street, between Thirteenth and
Fourteenth, worknen cut down several
| trees They were cut down in order to
allow the pavement to be decreased in
width. The tops of most of them were
dried and sbriveled after the feast OF tue
| beetles.
| FEEDS ON POISONOUS ACIDS.
Trees ornamented with ligatures of
cotton saturated with anti-bug acids are
seen at a great many places, but it ap-
pears that they are not very effective
| bulwarks against the beetles
An effort was made by The Times yester-
| day to interview the park commissioners
on this subject to discover what heroic
remedy could be applied to these desper-
ately-diseased trees. A visit was made to
the propogating garden near the river on E
street extended.
Mr.. Lanham, who is in charge of the
garden, was seen in the garden. He was
told what was wanted, but he immediately
replied that he could not be interviewed
and the only thing he did say was that there