Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-08
A MENACE TO AUGUSTA.
Our Elm Trees Must Be Saved from
the Inch Worm.

Editors Kennebec Journal:
Augusta owes much of it's beauty and
| attractveness to it's magnificent shade
trees, and to their preservation the
city should give careful attention.
For several years the elm and fruit
trees in different parts of the city have
been cleaned of their foliage by the
canker, or what is commonly known
AS the inch worm, and in the effort of
nature to throw out secondary foliage
there must be an overtaxing of the
powers of the tree. For three years
these trees have had their foliage de-
stroyed. until today, they look as
though a fire had swept through them.
Something must be done or the trees
will die. This cannot continue year
after year without permanent injury,
and the city authorities as well as
owners should see to it that proper
precautions are taken against further
injury. These canlker worms are peri
odically abundant, continuing their
raVageS for several years and then dis
appearing to appear at a later period.
Of these there are two varieties, the
fall and spring canker worm, the chief
distinction being in the form of the
eggs and the number of proleSs on
the larvae.
The eggs of the fall species are laid
in patches on the trunks and branches
of trees by the gray, wingles, female
moth late in the fall after frosts have
occurred. The moths may be found
ascending the trees during the winter
in thawing weather.
The young canker worms hatch with
the unfolding of the buds. These tiny
insects are typical inch worms or
"loopers." When disturbed they spin
down from the trees on silken threads
AS a result of their diligent feeding
the foliage of the infested tree turns
brown as if scorched by fire and soon
falls, and with it goes the immature
fruit. BY early summer the insects
complete their growth, bury them
selves in the ground and transform
into pupae, from which in the fall the
winged male and winglcss female
emerge. The spring insect has habits
similar to those of the preceding
species, but energies in the spring in
stead of in the fall and lays it's eggs
in smaller masses and usually in more
sheltered places on the trees.
The remedies are spraying and the
placing of bands about the trees. The
great difficulty in spraying is the lack
of a spraycr with sufficient power and,
in the case of the elms, the distance
of the limbs from the ground. For
the work to be of any value it must be
thorough and this necessitates force be-
yond any hand pump.
Growers of fruit and crops have met
this same obstacle and not until the
past season has a horse power sprayer
been perfected which is considered eff
fective. The solutions to be used are
arsenate of lead, 8 or 4 pounds to $50
gallons water, or Paris green 1 pound
to $50 gallons water. the first being
the safest to apply; but they must be
applied early in the season and more
than one application is necessary.
Metal tree protectors are sometimes
successful, but are usually very cxpen-
sive and require constant attention. A
simple and very effective protector is
made by banding the trees with cotton
waste covered with a strip of tarred
paper, tightly tackled to the tree. The
paper is coated with tar or printers
ink which intercepts the wingless fe-
males. These bands should be put on
early in the fall and should be kept
in working order until after the buds
open. Because of the Importance of
saving our shade trees and the expense
attending their protection the city
should provide for the banding of the
trees before another winter, the over
sight of the same and the spraying of
our elms in the early spring before the
eggs hatch. Thorough work for one
or two years will save our shade trees
while a little more neglect will surely
kill hundreds of our beautiful elms
Last year, Hon. j. Manchester Haynes
had his orchard thoroughly sprayed in
early spring, saving not only the foliage
and fruit, but, what is of more i'm
portance, protecting the trees so tina,
there are no worms to be found this
| year. Prevention is our only remedy
| and this must be the motto with oul
city, in treating these pests.
G.. NJ. TWITCHELL.