New-York tribune., 1902-07-27
WARRING oy TUssocK KorH.
BROOKLYN PARK DEPARTMENT WANTS
CHILDREN TO AID IN ExTERMINAr-
ING FOLIAGE DESTROYERs

For several days all the available men IN .bA
Brooklyn Park Department have been warning an
the tussock moth. On the Ocean Parkway lsrra
gang OF men have been at work with long handled
steel brushes with which the nests of the insects
and cocoons have been destroyed. Never in the
history OF the Park Department has this pest
appeared in such large numbers and with such de-
structive effect Earlier i'm the season the en-
ployes of the park fought the worms with spraying
machines, but now that they are in the cocoon
stage the battle is kept up with renewed vigor
Walter w. Hoover who has made study Of the
insect pests, is in charge OF the work. He saws
that with his force of men he accomplish bet
ter results by fighting the worms in their present
shape. Park Commissioner Young has put every
available man at his service.
In the smaller trees ii is usually possible 10
reach all the nests with the long handled brushes
but on the big trees. such line the Ocean Park
way. the men compelled to ciumb high up in
the branches. All the cocOons and the nests can be
destroyed with the steel brushes. but the eggs
themselves picked OF and dropped into pail
containing kerosene and burned. The pest seems
to be more numerous along the roadways and the
edges of the park. and the trees in the interior
of the park comparatively free.
Large numbers OF complaints from citizens have
reached the Park Department of the ravages Of
the worms private shade trees. They appear
to think that since the trees have been put under
the jurisdiction of the department men will be
out to spray private trees and kill the worms
Commissioner Young however. has all and more
than his force can attend TO park property.
Mr. Hoover said yesterday that the children and
citizens should be encouraged to fight the worms
just at the present time, inasmuch as the most
effective results be accomplished before the
eggs are Matched out. He added:
In brooklyn there are annually two broods of
the tussOck moth. The first brood of cateTpillars
have spun their cocOOns. and in many places the
adult moths have emerged and deposited their
eggs These eggs Matching The eggs of
this first brood were noticed by first July 12
and those eggs hatched July 2f From this IL is
plain that eggs deposited before July u are
now little caterpilars. Most of the eggs. how
ever. laid until after that date. and II
too late yet to destroy them The eggs appear
white masses. chiefly on the rough bark OF the
trunk and larger branches They may also be
found the sides of houses fences any
rough place which affords some hiding place or
protection to the cocoon. The female moth almost
invariably deposits her eggs right where she
emerges. you may expect find the egg masses
wherever there are cOcOOns The eggs can be
easily picked off the tree. then burned Simply
scraping picking them of is not sufficient, as
they can hatch quite we'll the ground Any
child do this work and If some slight reward
is offered to the one who collects the most egg
masses. they will take interest in collecting
them. and the trees will soon be free The Park
Department is doing this kind of work the
park trees, but. having no appropriation for work
OF this kind street trees Is unable to- do any
thing in that line this season