Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-20
Methods Prescribed for Exterminat.
ing Both OF These Nuis-
anSeO.

A number of the insects have been seen
In Brooklyn. and Mr.. Lewis Collins, Sec
rotary of the Tree Planting and Fountain
Society, has issued a letter on the subject
which will be read with interest here, where
there are so many trees, the loss of any
considerable portion of which would be a
source OF deep regret to the entire popula-
ton. The letter is as follows:
The present season thus far in Brook
lyn mas been somewhat destructive to the
tussock moth. Last season the people
waged a war of determination in some To-
caities, the result of which has been
great reduction in numbers this year. The
severe wind and rain of Sunday, June II,
destroyed many and the heavy rain Of July
& destroyed mary more. People have been
applying more intelligently successful
methods Of destruction. the present is an
important period in the life Of this moth
in Brooklyn. 1t is mostly wound up in its
cocoon, and soon the perfect insect will
come forth to deposit eggs for the next
brood. Some have already matured and
laid their eggs. which may be seen, white
mass on the top of the cocoons. These
eggs should be removed and destroyed
Throwing them on the ground is not suf-
nclent, for they are very tenacious of life
and Will hatch there and crawl upon the
tree. A few masses of eggs were deposited
as early as July u and will soon be Matched
out.
The Matching Period.
Eggs may hatch in about eight days after
unmatched until after the middle of next
May. The destruction of these eggs and
the ohrysalites in the cocoons and what few
remaining larvae have not yet spun their
cccoons, either before they enter them or
afterWar will result in complete extermi-
nation of this pest. The spraying with in
SecticideS is of no value against the tuS-
sock moth from the time 1t is ready to en-
ter the cocoon until the young of the next
brood have Matched. People are often sur
prised when they find cocoons on their trees
when they have taken great pains to de-
stroy the caterpillars during the early part
of the season. They will not wonder when
they learn that the caterpillar of this moth
is d great traveller a few days before 1t en-
tiers the cocoon 1t will crawl one foot in
cne-quarter of a minute, which will amount
TO 40 feet in an hour, over One-half mile
in one-half of a day. To it the matter OF
several blocks in a city amounts to little
when it wishes to change its locality.
General Destruction Necessary.
Its ability to crawl and it's disposition to
wander a this period of life make the gen.
eral destruction of this moth necessary.
Where food is consumed In any locality
these oaterpllars will move in one direction
to some tree or trees objec tive point
as with a common instinct.
In these emigrations from place to place
ordinary roadways are easily traversed and
nigh fences are easily scaled Many back
'
sock moth. and each succeeding year sends
forth Its accustomed brood to infest trees
that have been cleansed.'
The Army Worm.
Washinstonians who are greatly inter-
ested that the beauty of the streets may
not be rlarred by the destruction of the
trees are much worried for fear that we
will soon be visited by the army worm,
which is one of the most destructive pests
against which the Agricultural and arbor.-
culturfst have to contend in many parts
of the United States. This worm is found
practically throughout the United States
east of the Rocky mountains. and within
the last few days 1t mas appeared in great
numbers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and
Delaware, and it is feared that it will
reach Maryland and the District of Co.
lumbia very shortly. 1t is not dangerous
except when travelling in large armies. and
fortunately it appears in numbers only at
intervals of several years. This year the
worm has become very abundant. and I'M
less checked will do great injury to the
crops.
prominent officer of the Agricultural
Department, who has made a study of the
army worm at its worst. says his advice to
farmers Is to burn over their fields in the
fall and all the dry grass along the road
side. He holds that If this Is well done
this fall there VIII be little danger of the
worm returning In dangerous numbers
next spring This method of fighting
the pest, he thinks, Will prove the most
effective.
Ditch of Soft Earth.
Continuing, he said: Nothing can he
done this year with fields that have been
affected already by the pest. The only
thing to do is to pillow a furrow around
these fields and maintain the soil in a
crumbly state. The fur-ow need not be
deep, but it must be crum5ly on the sides.
The depth does not matter. The army
worm can crawl over house with perfect
ease. Farmers have dug bitches three
feet deep, but with smooth sides to prevent
the worm from travelling This is
less. The ditch might be one hundred
feet deep, but it would not prevent the
worm from mlgra ting The six-inch- deep
kept soft When the worm starts to climb
down into the furrow it catches In the
loose earth and tunbles 20 the bottom.
When it tries to climb out either side
1t slides back because of the soft earth,
and eventually dies in the ditch.
Poisoned Food.
DRY bran mixed with Paris green at the
ratio of one pound of poison to fifty pounds
Of bran, strewn along the bottom Of the
ditch aids in the destruction of the worm
1t eats the bran in lieu Of anything better
and perishes. This is especially good
treatment at night. During the day if the
sun Is hot II will kill the worm. treat
same ratio, If taken in time will also save
cornfelds. A handful of the mixture
strewn about the roots Of the stalks es-
pecially If the corn be young, will keep
the worm from mounting the stalks to
feed the younger leaves at the crown
of the stalk. Even if the worm has
mounted the stalks If the corn is young
the mixture can be sprinkled upon the
leaves and in the crown and thus poison
the worm.
There are several parasites that are
destructive, and in some parts of the coun
try the destruction of the worm is being
worked out by Its natural enemies
I'm some parts Of New Jersey the worms
have destroyed orchards, completely strin:
ping the trees Of their leaves and fruit
Reduction In Rate to Bay Ridge.
The rate to Bay Ridge. the beautiful ex-
cursion resort on the Chesapeake Ray hss