The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-07-29
Elm Beetle Causing Destruction
In Connecticut.
BATTLE AGAINST PEST BEGUN.
4 Poison That win XIII Being Spraysd on
III, Trees, Ssms Of Which Are @if
ScMchsc BY Fire.

NOTWllnt
Connecticut the cline tree beetle is work
ing havoc with the fine old elms. which
have made the state notable. The broad
WINGED trees OF New havcn are bare Of
leaves Hartford stately ornaments have
the appearance which usually indicates
fall frost. and east and west of these
cities tho rafases OF tho insects have CALI
ed forth energetic Probationary
w T. Eriuon. stale entomolosist has
Issued a bulletin giving suggestions for
coping with the pest and urglng i'm
mediate warfare. but his advice has
brought relief in few instances
The city. shaded for wears b clms OF
great size and ~ mmetrs. IS undergoing
the experience OF having its streets hlied
with dead leaves in July. and Of witness
ina the gradual destruction Of the trees.
The municipal authorities have taken cog
nizance Of the matter and lshorers patrol
the streets throwing chemicals wherever
lodging place OF the beetles is suspected.
Broadnay the fashionable place cf resi-
oeLcc. where are groups OF towering inter-
lacing trees nov knows no shield from the
sun. and Chelsea Parade. plateau nor
ceTlng H. where the clms that g.rd IL
were set out nearis a century ago, u bare
Of shade. The highway was the first turn-
pike Ia the United States and It's tool
gate was not abolished until 1852.
Adjoining the parade and In striking
contrast 10 its dropping aspect is the
small square cement cemetery where rest
the remains OF Uncas, chief of the Mo-
hegan Indians. and the ashes OF his son
and grsndsons Slender poplars definant
OF the elm tree beetle, enshroud il in al
most sepulchral gloom.
LAID TO THE sPARRows.
1t is asserted by many that the English
sparrows are responsible in great degree
for the presence OF the elm tree beetle. |
IL Ia well known that since the sparrows |
have thronsed this end of New England !
the wFeas,- -bluebiEasI- martens and val |
low birds. which fed largely on insects. |
have lied.
The sparrows ignore insects as food, but
night other birds. In rural districts where !
the sparrows are not numerous, the elm
trees have suffered from the ravages of
the beetles.
Distressed over the condition of the
trees here Mayor Thayer invited the
state etomoiogfst 10 make "A personal ex-
aminaiion. Mr.. Britton came here this
week and issued general Instructions for
keeping down the pest
ITO kill the insects" SAYS this docu- |
ment, spray the ground under the tree |
and the trunk and lower branches IL pos
sibie with a soap mechanical emulsion OF |
Kerosene and water containing ten per |
cent OF kerosene. This will kill all pu- |
pac with which IL comes In contact, and |
VIII not in1ure the trees or grass Whale |
oil and common soaps are also effective |
tf dissolved In water Zone pound in five |
ga.lors) and applied as a spray. III a |
pump is not available. the soap solution !
yray be sprinkled on the insects with n |
watering pot. BY prompt and thorough |
concerted action on the part OF both pub |
Tic officials and residents much can be |
done IN this way 10 prevent injury to the /
elm trees next season"
Suprlementing his official words. MIR. |
Britton said: "The cater pillars are now
coming down the trees in large numbers. |
and should be destroyed immediately |
week or ten days from now the adult |
beetles VIII come forth and nv away |
SPRAYING the trunks and larger branches |
OF the trees and also the ground under
the trees With kerosene using either the |
soar emulsion or the mechanical mixture
zach containing ten per cent of Kerosene
Is the best means OF killing the beetles
In this stage"