Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-18
Danger From Forest Fires
Now Seems Past.
chronological Department 10
Issue Circular on Pests.
New Maine Experimentation
1t the Capitol.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council
Friday, Aug. 20, at 10 A. M.

Reports which have been received at
the State land office indicate that a
great deal of rain has fallen through
out the State the last two weeks. All
immediate danger from forest fires is
removed and now that the drought is
broken, it does not seem that this part
of the country can be on the schedule
for anything like what has been passed
through early the present summer.
While the record of the early half of
the summer of 1908 will not go down
in the history of the State as unpre-
cedcnted, for there have been many
periods of partial drouth in years past,
vet it WAS certainly far in excess of
the average for dryness, and the APP
prehension of those who own timber
lands wa; well founded. While the
present rainy spell has its disagree
able features, yet it is a Safeguard
against temperance of the danger
that threatened valuable property
scarcely more than ten days ago. The
land office force is at present at work
settling the fire. bills of the present
seasol,, and it may be said in passing
that the system which was adopted
two years ago for filing the data un-
der this head is working well. and the
auditing and payment Of the bllls IS
proceeding much more smoothly under
the new system.
The chronological bureau of the
Department of Agriculture has in
PREPARATION an important circular
which will be issued this week. 1t is
entitled "A Circular of Information
on the Prominent Caterpillar and
Some Of It's Associates" This is the
SPECIALIZED maple caterpillar, hctero-
caInpa guttavitta, which was first re-
ported in sufficient number to consu-
tute pest on July 9, but which has
now been reported in AZ towns in this
State and from one town in New
Halnpshire These catcrpillars, while
having the maple as their food plant,
are swarning over other foliage in
search of food. as they soon strip the
trees on which the eggs are laid and
seek Other foraging grounds The de-
partment early gave attention to tins
new pest. and an earnest effort IS be-
in maze to stamp it out of Maine.
The maple caterpillar is not content
to bring his brothers and sisters with
him to aid in stripping the trees. but
he must needs bring other species, al
lied to him in tastes and capacity for
mischief, which, to speak in an I'M
scientific and untcchnical way, may
be considered his unclcS and cousins.
Thus. wherever the prominent cater
pillar is found there will also be sew
eral other species. as the following:
The orarge striped oak worm, ami
sofa senatorial, sometimes called the
senator moth
The green striped maple worm, ami
sofa rubcEnda. This differs from the
above in the manner Indicated by the
English and Latin names.
The white tipped moth, symmerista
albifrons.
The new circular deals with these
new pests. tells where they have been
found, gives plates from photographs.
showing the catcrpillars feeding and
describes them so minutcly that they
cannot he mistaken The life history
of the insect is given. thereby en-
aiding layncn who have but 4 slight
knowledge of entomology, to identity
the moths when they shall cmcrg" into
the mature insect. Among the indl-
vidual observers who have written 70
the department concerning the dcpre-
dations of the prominent caterpillar
and it's companions are Nathan San
born of West Baldwin and w. L.
Maloon of Bowdoin, Me. Their obser-
va Ions. supplemented by the labors oil
the State cntomologst. Prof. f.. r.
Hitchings. show that the posts are