Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-03-15

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\ Prof. Waldron Of the state agricultural
college sounds a timely warning to those
wNhot+are VI are raising trees, urging them to
to take precautions against the ravages
Of the measuring worm. In an article
On this subject which will be of interest
to residents of the city, who, last summer
saw trees completely stripped Of foliage
because of the ravages of this pest, Prof.
Waldron says: :, - -.
The canker worm in its larval stage is
readily distinguished by its peculiar
habit of locomotien. It is sometimes
called the measuring worm or the loop
worm, both of which names give an idea
Of it's method of travel, that is by placing
down the legs of the forward end of the
body and looping the body up in such
position that the hind legs are brought
Immediately back of the fore legs with
the hind legs held fast. The front of
the body is then lifted and stretched to
the full length of the worm where it is
again placed down in readiness for
another step. The larva also has Pc
culiar habit OF. swinging down from the
limbs whenever they are disturbed, re-
naming suspended on fine silken thread
which they spin out as they fall. After
wards they climb back up the thread at
their leisure. tThis peculiar habit af-
fords them: protection from birds. 1t
also enables them to pass through from
one tree to another in search of new
food, for when suspended in mid air, the
wind readily blows them to another ad-
joining tree. The full grown caterpillars
are an inch and fourth: to an inch and
a half in length and vary from a green to
an indefinite brown with rather vague
stripes. The eggs from
which these caterpillars hatch are
usually deposited upon the twigs of the
tree in the months of April or May,
though it sometimes happens that few
of the insects develop from the spring
larvae later in the summer and lay their
eggs in the fall. *=- X.
The moth Of which the canker worm
is the larva is rather peculiar in that the
female is wingless. On account of this
they are obliged to climb the trees in
order to deposit their eggs. It is owing
to this peculiar habit that we are able to
prevent their devastations. By putting
some mechanical contrivance around the
body of the tree early in April, the
females are prevented from depositing
their eggs in a place where the young
can do any injury. A strip of tarred
paper put around the tree and fastened
tightly with wire or cord near the
upper edge, allowing the lower edge to
flare out from the trees, makes very
good protection. It is made still better
by smearing the inside of it with cheap
molasses or mixture of tar and grease
melted together. Tin collars are some
times made with a lower faring edge,
that answers the purpose admirably.
They can be attached to the tree by
taking one end and passing the other
end around so as to join it; when another
tack can be inserted. If the bark is
rough it will be necessary to put felt or
some such material between the collar
and the tree to prevent the moths climb
ing up in the crevices of the bark. 1t is
also sufficient simply to smear the trunks
with a narrow band of tar and grease Or
with cheap molasses. If this material
hardens new application must be made.
Cotton or wool is sometimes tied about
the tree. This answers the purpose if it
does not become matted together. OF
course it is useless to put any of these
contrivances after the moths have passed
up the tree, which in this, latitude in
ordinary years would be about: the first
Of May. II for any reason of neglect or
accident, the eggs have been deposited.
the only remaining remedy is to spray
the trees with poisonous mixture.
The common remedy for this lis. Paris
Green applied at the rate Of one pound
to $50 gallons Of water. If this appli-
cation Is made after the caterpillars are
nearly grown, bnt little good results
from il, but if h the trees are sprayed
early in the season shortly after they
hatch, and again IN u week, the remedy
is3antirely sufficient. The spraying must
be3d done with an pparatas made Tor this
purpose in nsorder that all parts off the
foliage may sbe well covered with the
mixture 5$s4:S %5$
s IS Vetoed
Governor w hite has vetoed the normal
school bill, providing for the issue Of
10000 bonds for the d ormal schools at
May rille and Valley esi ity The bill was
al. ht as introduced hut there is an
arnendmen that is reported plainly nm
constitutional as to the manner of sell
ing lands and payment of the bonds
which ware to be based on the lands of