Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-01
STATE HOUSE.
Need Of a Vigorous
BroWn-TaiI Crusade.
Gov. Cobb Will Make Long List
Of Nominations, Today.
Notes Of The Departments - -Four
New Corporations.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting of Governor and Council,
Thursday, Nov. 9, at 10 A. M.

From the present indications, those
who are to conduct the crusade against
the broWn-tail moths, this fall, Will
find plenty of work to do in the infested
sections of the state. particularly III
Cumberland county. where the pests
seem to have come TO stay, and where
by only the most thorough and de-
termined work can the foothold which
they have gained be wrested from
them. During the months that the
trees We're in foliage, the nests We're
concealed, but now that the leaves
have mostly fallen they have come INTO
view, and are to be seen everywhere.
Prof T.. f.. Hitchings of WaterViile,
the state entomologiSt connected with
the department Of agriculture, VINO
had been in Portland where, in com
pany with Capt. Philbrook, lie had
been looking over the situation as re-
CARDS the nests of the moths, was at
the capitol for a short time, yesterday.
on his way to Kennebunk, klttery and
other sections where the moths
were found, last year Mr..
Hitchings brought home with him
several nests which he gath
cred in Portland, each of them being
typical specimens. showing the method
in which the nests are made, the way in
which they are attached to the leaves,
the egg clusters covered with golden
brown hairs, and also the habit of the
moth in building the nest at the end
of the branch. The nests should serve
as an excellent aid to such people as
are not familiar with the pest, in the
discovery of other nests.
To give an idea of the seri-
BUSINESS of conditions in and around
Portland, and to show the preva
lence of the nests in the in
f. sted sections, it may be said that Mr.
Hitchings and Capt. PhilbrOok found
one pear tree on which it was estimat
ed that there were more than fifty
nests. Mr.. Hitchings cut a twig from
that tree which had upon it two separ-
ate nests. and on each nest was the well
Known brown clump which constitutes
the egg cluster. In addition to the
nests there was also Il specimen of
the fruit. The spray has been photo
graphed, and will be used as one of
the illustrations of the forthcoming
report.
In speaking of the prevalence of the
moths in Portland, Mr.. Hitchings stat
ed that he was confident that there
would be over 10000 nests found in
and around Portland, this year. 1t is
a little early, yet, as the foliage in
that city has not fallen to such an
extent as it has in some other sec
tons of the state, but the nests are
there, and there will be busy times
for the nest hunters, later on. The city
had some balance left over from the
money which was appropriated for
the work of eXtermination, last year,
and another appropriation for the COM
ing crusade, and the work will be thor
oughly and effectively done.
In regard to the other sections of the
state which We're found to be infested,
last season, it is but reasonable to sup
pose that there We're some nests
which were undiscovered. and the prod
net of these, together with the moths
which have without doubt, found their
way into the state from Massachu-
sets during the past summer, the col
ony of winter nests viii undoubtedly
be a large one. The people of the
state should make the most earnest eff
forts to head off the pests before they
become so thoroughly established to
go beyond bounds. as they have in
Massachusetts, and before the shade
trees. which are the beauty of the
state, are denuded of their foliage.