Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-07-19
FOREST ENEMIES
Vermont Needs to Be on Its Qua.
Against the RaVages Of the Gypsy an,
Brown Tall Moths.


burlington Free Press1
1t has been assumed BY not a fs-. t.
dividuals in Vermont as well as l
where that the chief enemies 10 he o,l.
come by the champion Of tho f,-ss..
were the ruthless lumberman and 49,
careless fire fend, and for a conside-aIis
period this was the situation. U1-,.S
the past few years, however. ns7s
enemy to our forests has been rnati,s
its appearance in New England nar,5
cnlarly in Ma chusetts, in the sbsnn u,
the gypsy moth. The Bay state bs.
spent money by the hundred tbou.a1Ss
to annihilate this pest, but the nIsgTs
has continued until New Hamusblrs
has become embraced in its field a
operations, and unless the owners ~
forests and other wooded land IN ye-.
mont are watchful, it will he only
question Of time when the forests Of The
Green Mountains will be devastated az
are those Of the Bay state
People who have not witnessed ,5s
evidences Of depredations Of the uo,b
can form little idea Of its terrible yyory
The Lynn Item says that passengers on
the Lynn Woods line of the Boston &
Northern had a practical Illustration ~
the power of the caterpillars wbe, the
army of creepers covered the tracks IN
such an extent as to stop the o.r,
People who do not travel in the direo.
ton Of the woods can hardly realize the
extent Of the infection
The Item says that in the early sprirr
visitors to the woods in the neiebbor
hood Of Sluice pond were shown the
gypsy moth eggs on the trees. where
they were regarded as curiositjes nv,
owners Of camps. while nothing was
done to prevent them from becoming the
pest that Is now so apparent and des-
tructive The campers who neglected m
destroy the eggs of the moths are now
driven out Of their pleasant summer cool.
ing places by the caterpilars which have
taken possession and assumed control
The woods are no longer resorts for
comfort or pleasure. and the ultimate
destruction Of the trees is a disaster
that Is by no means uncertain or remote
We had heard much of the relief that
parasites will afford. but their work has
not yet become noticeable. The conse.
quences Of the neglect Of the brown ts1
moth nests is apparent enough. and the
gypsy moths will soon be putting IN
their destructive work. The beauty Of
the Lynn Woods, which has been
special local pride. bids fair to dlsap
pear unless something happens TO the
insect world that shall turn the tide and
give relief
This is but a single picture among
many that are to be seen in different
parts of Massachusetts,, and it behooyes
the people Of Vermont to be on the
watch for the spread of the pests named
in our state.
Fortunately the legislature of Vermont
TOOK the necessary precautions 10 guard
against dangers Of this kind at its
session last autumn. when an act was
passed authorizing and empowering the
governor TO use such means as in his
Judgment are necessary to externirate
the San Jose scale and the gypsv and
brown tail moths whenever and where
ever they may appear in the state" and
lnstructing the auditor of accounts 10
draw all orders necessary to carry out
the provisions of the act. It now re-
mains for our people TO he vigilant and
10 report any sign of the advent OF these
pests 10 the proper authorities.