Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-01-27
SEVENTEEN
YEAR LOCUST!
The Pest Is Due To Make
Its Appearance In This
Section This Year.

The II year locust is due to make its
appearance this year. According to
Prof. IL. "A. Surface, economic zOOlOgist
of the Pennsylvania State Department
of Agriculture, lit is very important
that we make preparation now for the
occurrence of this pest next spring.
II is true that there was brood of To-
Gusts in some of the southern counties
of Pennsylvania and in Delaware during
1902, but this was the one commonly
known to cntomologists as Brood No.
XXI. The brood which is to appear
next spring is by far the larger and
more destructive. and is known to en-
tomologists as Brood No VIII This is,
of course, the immediate progeny Of
the locust which occurred in the outbreak
of 1889.
I'm its entire scope over the country
il covers a portion of Southern Massa-
Long Island and portion Of New
York, New Jersey, Delaware and Mary
land to the Chesapeake Bay, and ex-
tends inland across Pennsylvania, Mary
land and West Virginia to Ohio, lndi-
ana, Illinois and Kentucky. This pest
will not, of course. occur in all of the
counties Of Pennsylvania, but may be
anticipated in all excepting the north
ern counties. The best thing for fruit
growers to do is to inquire of older res
idents, if the outbreak of the seven
teen-year locust occurred in their region
in 1889. If it be locality where these
pests We're not present, then il need
not be feared that they will occur there
next spring. However, wherever this
pest was present in 1889, fruit growers
should know of this and be on the alert
They should not permit their trees.
especially young trees, to remain un-
trimmed until after the cicada or so
called locust are deposited next spring
The reason for permitting the trees to
remain untrimmed is that the pests will
thus place their eggs in the wood of
many branches, which can be cut away
and the symmetry of the top can be
preserved, and many of the branches
that are especially desired may be re-
tanned. However, if the trees be trim
med early next spring. particularly if
they be young trees, all the branches
that are permitted to remain will be, of
course. branches that are desired.
Upon these locusts will crowd and will
pierce them in the process of laying
their eggs during June. The branches
will be so badly injured that they will
be worthless, and the trees will be seri-
ously defOrmed or set back by cutting
them off, as there may he no other
branches to take their place II they
be not cut off after the injury the vi
talty of the tree will be greatly re-
duced, and the injury to the same will
he permanent. The more twigs that
are permitted to remain, especially on
young trees. the more scattered willbe
the injury, and the more easily can one
trim his tree in such manner as to
cut away the injured parts and preserve
some of the main branches at places
where they may be desired.
THE reason for not planting young
trees next spring in localities where the
cicada or locust will occur is that the
pest appears to delight in placing It's
egg in the trunks and larger branches
of small trees. and when such trees are
afflicted it is impossible to restore them
as they will always show the results Of
the injuries received. A break in the
trunk during stress of wind will occur
at the place where the tree has been
weakened by such means. Blight, de-
cay and death start at such spots. II
should be clearly remembered that it is
folly TO plant young orchards next
spring in those regions where the cica-
da or locust occurred in 1889 and will
appear again this year. Especially and
emphatically upon ground that was
covered with bushes and trees II years
ago should this be avoided
IF the instruction here given be fol-
lowed with care, and the pruning or
trimming be deferred until after the
eggs are laid next June, this can be
made worth thousands of dollars in
saving young trees. but if such direc-
tions be not observed there will be
hundreds Of people writing when il is
too late, asking what to do to save their
trees from injury. Now is the time to
prepare to prevent this. when the entire
means is to be prevention rather than
remedy. "