St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-07-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Gypsy 10th Investigated by a Gov
eminent Expert.
Efforts to Secure Desk Of Late Senator Harris
why 1t Will Fail-The Ruiz Case, Etc.
Especial to the CALIFORNIAN

tariff bill, Washington has seen congress
adjourn and quiet resumed. The gen.
eral opinion seems to be that the ses-
sion terminated much sooner than was |
expected would be the case when it was |
called together. The Republican man
ayers, however, have been very shrewd |
in the matter and have had very smooth |
sailing, as consequence. Although the |
Dingley bill Is far from being a model
tariff bill, 1t is admitted that it is drawn
up along the best possible lines, con.
sidering the diversified interests with
which its authors had to deal. New
England got nearly everything she
wanted, with the exception of free hides
That was impossible, however, owing to
the strong demands of the western sena.
tors. President Mckinley and all the
Republican leaders here express the be.
lief that the new tariff bill will increase
the revenues of the government to a
large extent and restore industrial and
commercial prosperity
DR.. Leland o. Howard, government
etomologist has just returned from Bos.
ton, where he went to investigate the
work Of determination carried on by the
committee Of the board of agriculture
OF the state of Massachusetts against the
gypsy moth. At the suggestion Of Sen.
ator Lodge Of Massachusetts clause
was inserted In the last appropriation
fer the chronological division of the
Agricultural department for this inves-
tgation, a report to be made to congress.
DR.. Howard has been to Boston before
on the same mission, but this visit was
more interesting than others from the
fact that the caterpillars are at work
now, and he could witness their depre-
dalton and also the operations against
them by the state board of agriculture.
In the opinion CT DIR. Howard the work
in Massachusetts is the most interesting
experiment in the chronological line
which has ever been attempted in this
country. and Is without doubt one Of the
most expensive. Since 1890 $3.50 900 has
been appropriated fer destroying the
moth in ssachusetts, $4,000 Of this
being used this wear.
The gypsy moth (porthetria dispar) Is
from Europe and Is supposed to have
been imported to this country about 20
years ago by Leopold Tionvelt. French
entomologist. He brought some Of the
eggs to experiment with silk worms in
some directions. and 1t is supposed these
blew out Of his window. Since then they
have increared in such large numbers
and their depredations have been so
great on all sorts of vegetation that steps
were taken in 1889 to destroy them.
When first noticed the moth began to
work in an area of about 200 square
miles In the vicinity Of Boston. Since
the state board has begun a crusade
against them the territory has been
very largely reduced.
In winter the eggs are found on trees
houses, fences and such other station
airy objects in large white patches, con-
tanning from 500 to 700. They arr
sprayed with an oil preparation which
kills them. In May and June the larvae
are sprayed with mixture containing
arsenic. The trees on which they arr
found are bound round with a burlaI
band. The larvae collect under thes,
bands and are killed there. They arr
also exterminated in large numbers b!
clearing up the woodland. Persons en-
gagged in the work go through the forest
cut out the underbush and burn 1t. Onl!
the trees are left standing. In this man
ner millions of the lavae are killed. TIT
female moth cannot fly, owing to he
heavy body. and is easily destroyed oil
this account. The caterpillars have no
appeared in any other state but Massa
chusetts.
The board of agriculture of Massachu
sets Is also disturbed by another moth
known as the brown-tailed moth, whicl
is confined to Somerville and Cambridge
having been found there in May of thi
year. 1t is also a native of Europe, and
1t Is thought, was brought here In younl
trees which were imported.
The death of Senator Harris Of Ten
nessee has reopened an old question. I
Is that of donating the desks In the sen
ate chamber. The state of Tennessee
would like to have the desk which wa
occupied by Senator Harris for man
years in the senate. The suggestio
was made that 1t might be condemne
and sold, so that the state might bu
1t, but this could not be done. 1t Is
frequent thing for such applications
be made.
There is always a demand for tn
desks of men Of distinction in the sen
ate after their death, but there Is no In
stance where the wish has been graft
fled. The desks that were In the preser
senate chamber when 1t was first occr
pied are still there. A number haV
been added, as the senate has been er
larged. but none Of the old ones hay
been replaced. Very determined effort
have been made to get possession OF tn
desks which were occupied by Webste
Clay, Calhoun and Jefferson Davi
The efforts to get the Davis desk wei
Particularly persistent Now the ider
tity of all those desks Is kept secret,
save them from being cut to pieces b
relic hunters. While there is recoi
made, so that the desk of any histor
interest NAV he identified, II desirabl
there are but two or three irdividua
who are informed on the subject, and,
fact, the records not having been wri
ten before the war, II It had not been II
the watchfulness Of the late CAPITA
Bassett. who was in the senate from DO.
hood to trer'' Wing old age their ldenti
would rot now he known to anvon
The interest in those articles OF furn
tllre at the co pito1 which are identih,
With the great statesmen of the pa
dates since tue war. Prior to that ass
clation seems not to have added an