Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-05-16
THE BURLINGTON FREE PRESS: THURSDAY MAY 10. 1907

for its suppression 1t will before long
disseminate It's ravsges over the entire
United States
Beginning its unholy career in Massa-
it has already spread to as far
east as Passport Nc, and westward ho
into New York state, these insects which
not only damage fruit and shade trees,
but poison the human flesh wherever It
is touched. are attracted to light, which
results in the centers of towns and cities
being first infested. When swarm of
moths rise from any infested spot ana
are carried off by the wind, they fly to
the nearest mass of lights. and as soon
as their colony is established begin the
practical destruction of the citys shade.
When one tree Is stripped they march
to the next. They emerge early in the
spring, eating first buds. then the bios
SONS and finally the foliage Of fruit
trees as soon as It develops These
moths have a special liking for the pear
tree. The brown-tail moth is exceeding
ly handsome. the female being pure
white, with large wings 1t Is conspicu
Gus by reason of an enlarged tuft of
brown hair. from which 1t gets it's name.
The habit of the caterpillar If winterng
in webs at the tips of branches, admits
of the simple remedy of cutting off and
burning the webs during the fall or win
ter. This gives such excellent results
that in Germany, France and Belgium
there are laws making It obligatory on
property owners to destroy the webs
during the winter. Where citizens ne
elect to do this work, It Is done for them
4. ~ ,yb
cost to their taxes. once the eggs are
Matched. spray with the same solution
as for the elm leaf beetle.
TO FIGHT THE MOSQUITO.
Here again, neighborhood co-opera ton
is essential. After each householder has
looked after her own yard, making GER
lin there is not single empty tin can
nor flower pot, not an uncovered cistern
nor rainwater barrel, defective roof
leader or ground depression to hold even
few inches of stagnant water, let them
unite to look after adjacent dump
grounds, vacant lots, and standing pools.
here kerosene Is the great remedy. The
crude petroleum is superior to the re-
fined oil and should be used in the pro-
portion of one pint of oil to a water
surface OF about twenty feet in diam
eter. less amount of oil will still be
effective. as just a scum of oil on the
Surface obstructs the delicate respiratory
apparatus of tho larvae and quickly suf-
locates them. The oling of pools or
other standing water should be repeated
every two weeks In the pretty village
of Montclair where mosquitoes formerly
made life almost uncomfortable and mala-
ria was rampant the citizense joined
forces with the health board in brca kin &
UP the larvae breeding grounds, until
to-day the village is practically immune.
There were fourteen ponds and pools in
the immediate vicinity OF Montclalr.
Now the most of these have been drain
ed and dried and the rest are KEEP oiled.
About one barrel of oil is used In five
weeks and the simple manner in which
the work Is carried on, makes the work
inexpensive. Carrying the oil in pals,
a man with his feet encased in high rub
Der hip boots sprays the oil over the
surface Of the water by means Of small
pump. AS It strikes the water he oil
forms a BLUSH scum completely cover
Ing every inch of the breeding grounds.
A neiEhborhood boys brigade might be
organized for this crusade, the youthful
heroes getting plenty Of fun and doing
efficient service at the same time.
TO DRIVE OUT RATS AND MICE.
While on the warpath these same
doughty warriors might be employed to
fight rats and mice. Chloride of lime
put in their runways will not only puri-
fy the air but burn the feet Of the ro-
dents and Brighten them away. Strong
spirits of ammonia sprayed in their
holes and in tho cracks OF the ub-base
Of n room Is also effectual. Still an
other discouraeer of attention is a cloth
spread with white of egg, then sprinkle
thickly with red pepper and tackled over
the rat-hole, pepper inside.
Stacked LINE FOR ANTS.
A never-failins remedy for ants of any
sort is air-slacked lime. Scatter it freely
wherever they rum They cannot stand
it in any place
DISEASE IN DUST CLOUDS.
The danger that citizens face when en-
countering a dust cloud in the street in