Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-12
Interesting Statement as to
/ Names Insect Pests.
treat Fun Promised on Sportsmen's
Excursion to kineo. -
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council
Tuesday, June %, at 10 A. M.


and Council, states that without doubt
the past season has been a record
breaker in the abundance of our COM
mon insects Continuing the report
says:
1.-THE increase over last year was very
Noticeable in the case of the mourning
cloak. cherry tree, ugly nest, red
bumped, yellow -necked, and fall web
worm, among the caterpillars. Grass
hammers were So abundant that many
Young apple trees were stripped of
their leaves and beans and even corn
suffered greatly from their attack.
I'VE are still free as far as has been
ascertained from any invasion of the
San Jose scale or elm-leaf beetle. The
mel in the field We're instructed to keep
a close watch while in the orchard for
anv appearance of the San Jose scale
and all nurseries have been thoroughly
examined for this pest. We are very
fortunate thus tar in being free from
its attack Many inquiries have been
made regarding it and Interested par
ties are CONSTANT, on the watch for
IFS appearance so that it will probably
be recognized before it can become es-
tablished to any extent in any section
Of the State
Il am very much of the opinion that
the elm-ieaf beetle cannot exist in our
climate Many reports have come to
me of its occurrence in the State but
thus far these reports have come from
PARTIES who are not sufficiently Versed
IL.
sect from a number of others in the
same family
1T is very gratifying indeed to note
the growing demand for literature and
information sought for by our leading
farmers and fruit growers in the state.
Farmers are beginning to realize the
absolute necessity of a thorough knOWi-
edge OF the life histories of some of
our most destructive insects. The Ma
tional Department of Agriculture at
Washington has gradually worked it's
way to the front and now stands at
the mead as one of the most useful de-
partmenis of our national government
The men in charge are constantly
working for the best interests of the
farmers Of our country.
Many specimens have been added to
the collection during the year. These
have been identified as far as possible
and will be arranged i'm their proper
families as soon as possible. So many
letters were received asking for infor-
nation on The different insects sent in
that it was quite an undertaking to
give the required information 10 say
nothing of Keeping a record of the col
lection up 10 date. This was impOSSi-
bic during part Of the season so that
quite lot of material still remains to
work on. 1t is very important this
work should be carefully done as many
come to consult the collection for the
purpose of Identifying specimens. The
value of state collection cannot be
over estimated and we trust that all
collectors in the state will recognize
tne value of it and endeavOr to cOntri-
bute any rare specimens from their
several localities that they can spare
so as to help enrich the cabinets at the
once. Credit will be given for all such
cohtrihltions and we hope many will
avail themselves Of the opportunity of
rendering valuable assistance in this
line
The life histories of many of our
insects are being worked up, and the
laboratory work in the insectary dur
'"g the pas, seascn was especially val
uable along these lines.
we are very anxious to secure eggs
anu larvae of many of our common in
sec's pests as well as those that are
.iasSed as rare. Will not our friends
heip us out in The matter?
Since the passage of the revised act
OF 1877 tho hrown-t.ail moth question
mas become much simplified aud the
several cities and towns in the infested
"lstrlcts have taken hold of the work in
earnest, with the result that at the
present time the situation is very hope
iul from returns made to date ii is
'"ie To predict that the number of
"ests mas been reduced more than SO
per cent Hardly nest has been re
ported from the tier of towns along
"e northern border of the infestatiOn,
anu There has been no further spread
reported.
Many people thought that the
"eather conditions of last winter were
sueh as to destroy the brown-tail lar
vac IN the State. From a careful eX-
summation made in the spring l found
mat OF ~ nests examined at Bar Har-
Oor containing $500 caterpillars only 10
rer cent. We're dead. In 10 nests from
georgetown containing 1857 caterpillirs
aoout III per cent were dead: while
nun oxford and Augusta cutie a
nu'''per of nests gave no live caterpil-
.a's' of course last winter was a very
exceptional one. Almost invariably
."e small colonies showed a much
e'eater per cent of dead larvae than
The large one.
summer visitors and others who
,oi''e TO us from infested districts in
massachusetts, and New Hampshire
mave caused no little uneasiness by
we" very positive assertions that we
IRE badly infested, in certain sec
sons OF the State, with the gypsy
n" o.h' these sections being outside the
~. of both the gypsy and brown
va lnfestations. A number of such
'cpor's came to the office during the
SEASON; one where a certain man went
~ considerable trouble and expense
:. ~ remove limbs from tall elm tree.
~, ihfestation being the mourning
WAX caterpillar.
"peOnio =. az vsa..saa.a . :. 80. 49,