Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-13
IT..GROWERS
Of State of Maine Meet
in Annual Session.
Brown Tail Moth Has Appeared
in Several Sections.
No Fears Now Of Gypsy Moth-Work
Of the Society.

The executive and special committees
Of the Maine State Ponolosical Soci-
ETY. Were in session. Wednesday. at the
tonH House. the following officers be-
ing present: President T.. A. Gilbert of
North Greene. Secretary D. H. Know,-
ton OF Pennington; Treasurer &. =.
Pope Of Manchester; Executive Com
mittremen X. II. Libby of Newport. V.
r. DecOster Of Rucktield. and c. 4. Ar
nod Of Arnold: and Treasurer-elect f..
l.. Lincoln of Wayne.
The work of the day was that of clos
ing up the records and business affairs
of the society for the year 1904, and out
lining in Il general way the program
and methods OF procedure for the en-
suing year. No definite information is
Yet ready to be made public, but an ac-
tive campaign in the interests of the
fruit grow erS of the State is assured.
a special committee was appointed at
the annual meeting Of the society for
the purpose of asking legislation upon
matters connected with the extermina-
ton Of the brown tail moth which has
made its appearance in several parts Of
the State. The committee consists of
u. 4. Gilbert and d. II. KnowltOn, re-
Spectivcly president and secretary OF
the Pathological Society and 4. w. Gil
man, State commissioner of agriCu
ture T.. F.. Ring. State Commissioner
OF forestry has also been invited to
confer with the committee and is heart
lily cooperating with them.
The necessity for immediate and ef-
fective action on this matter may br
more fully appreciated by reading the
following extract from letter recent
ly received by Commissioner Gilman
from A. II. Kirkland of Boston. IL con-
sulting entOmOlOgist. who has been
closely associated with the gypsy moth
commission in that state. Mr.. Kirk
land says:
In regard to suggestions for official
work by your State against the prown-
tail moth and possibly against the Sip-
sy moth. YOU might as we'll recognize
ut the outset that you will not be able
to eNternin.tc the brown-tail moth
from your State. All YOU can hope to
do is to suppress it and prevent its fur
Their snread To some extent. The l"-
males fy freely and so far that 1t wiz,
be only ! question of time when this nj
sect will occur generally throughout
New England. In the case OF the gypsy
moth, where spread takes place accl-
dentally by the caterpillar falling on
teams, etc. the problem is simpler.
Fortunately. 50 far as is definitely
krcpn, the gypsy moth has not bee'i
found in Maine. although it has Deem
thought by Sr,al" TO exist mere. nut m
vestigatinns conducted by Miss Patch.
,rtomo!oeist tnr the Maine Agriculture
II Expcriment Station. have proven be
ynnG Il .,Oubt that III" brown tail moth
=. with us To Il rar .:'ndtcr extent than
is desirable. The larger numbers of
these insects have been found in York
county. near the New Hampshire linz.
Nv, colonies oi them have also been
found oil the waS between Portsmouth
and Portland. also brrween Gardinei
ard Augusta. in fittston, IN BurkSp"r'
and in OrOnO.
The eggs IRE laid in summer ana the
caterpillarS hatch beior" cold weather
sets in, the colonies alternating III neSt>
OF leaves which inaE % cete ctei OF Inc
branches Of tree $. In the spring they
are ready to come forh with thu, iirS;
warm weather and attack the young
buds. in this mamie: destroying the
trees. No kind ri disidnOus tree seems
to ba safe from their depradatlonS'
fruit trees. shade trees. shubbeTy ahG
forests being alike endangered. though
A particular preference Is SHOWN 1nf
near trees. There seems ID he no para
site which will attack them. and the
birds all fight ST: of them. Th.' oHiS
nll. Of campaign against the pests III
present is the gathering end destroying
If the nests IN winter.
The general govcri'len! has been
asked by congressman nnm Massa-
cbuseits to aid in the determination OF
the brown tail meth in New England.
h,t il &c probable thai the only action
taken ny the general government will
h.. the searching Cor parasites in Eng
lirh countries where this insects are ma
tives, which Will attacE and destroy th'
nest leaving the eight with the loCali-
ties whore they ere u present found
The State will doubtless d" all in it,
mower for the destruction OF the III
sactS. but ii should j" recognized that
every locality and every citizen has
duty to rerform rf:,t will old in furth-
crjng the cause. 1t is desired that an"
locality which riay be- infested with
unknown and suSpiCiorS insects shall
he Immediately reported to tn" Com
missioner of Agriculture.
A hill which viii cover the whole
matter is now being framed, ana VIII
soon 10 presented 30 the Legislature for
action. Meanwhile le. every citizen.
whether a fruit grover or not be on tn"
watch to do his sl:ar" in the process ot
determination.