Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-12-24


lists IN this State and especially in the
eastern panhandle TO matter Of great
Importance possible danger, if not
carefully safe-guarGed.
The Maryland Agricultural Expert
nent Station by its bulletin No. I34
dlscloses the fact snat Maryland nur-
serymen, whose names are not given,
imported last year, the European pest
known as the "Brown Tail Moth.u
The bulletin, in explaining the amount
of work done by the Station for the
preceding year, refers to the fact that
it was learned that the Brown Tail
Moth was probably ON some Of the
seedlings being imported from France;
that as soon as it got this information
it ordered all the nurserymcn to hold
their imported stock in boxes until the
Station could send an expert 10 ex
anime it; that 1,l50,00 seedlings were
thus inspected and 700 nests of the
Brown Tail Moth were discovered ana
burned. The RuIletin frankly expresses
doubt as to whether all were found
and destroyed.
In view of this it seems 10 nae to be
of the very greatest importance that
the utmost care be exercised by orch ;
ardists in buy ing stock of Maryland
nurseries, especially of those nursery
men who have been importing their
seedlings from Europe. In case where
persons have already bought stock
any such nurseries the only safe thing
is to request the West Virginia Exper-
inert station to send a competent
man to make a careful inspection of
the stock TO dud, fpossible, any nests
OF the moth, so they can be destroyed.
The introduction of this pest into
the orchards of our State would be the
greatest possible calamity. This can be
understood when 1t is recalled that in
the States of Massachusetts, New
hampshire, Connecticut, Maine and
Rhode Island 100000 is being ex-
pended TINS year to fight this pest,
one-haif Of the amount appropriated
by the Federal Government and the
other half by the States.
1t was first found in Massa chusetts
along III the early ninetieS. Some say
it was imported on rose stocks, other
that scientiest who brought some Of
the pests over from Europe for expert
mental purposes allowed one OF the
moth to get out of window and make
its escape. In any event the increase
was marvellous. The little caterpillar
Matched from the egg laid by the moth
have eaten, not only the fruit trees of
the New England State but absolutely
destroyed the shade trees around many
of the cities and towns. Massachusetts
first began the fight in earnest in 1905
when the Legislature appropriated
$l50,000 to carry on the war of exter-
mination. With all the money and
labor expended it has been barely held
in check.
Another feature about them, an noy-
ing and dangerous, is the fact that the
caterpillars, at a certain age, shed their
hairs or barbs, which, when they be-
come dry, float about In the air On
striking the skin these set up an III
flamation or irritation.
| have no disposition to appear as
an alarmists, but any one can learn
from inquiry, what a destructive, ex-
pensive and irritating pest the Brown
Tail Moth has proven IN New Eng
land. The Maryland Bulletin refer red
to notifies the weird that this horrid
thing has been imported by Mary land
nurserymen; that they buried up 700
nests enough to inoculate half the
country and doubt if they got them
all. The question is, should any West
Virginia fruit grower or farmer run
the risk of buying this pest?
| fell it my duty, in view of my posi-
ton as the president of the State Hor-
tcultural Society, to call attention TO
this matter and advise against pur-
cHaoe lIouu MaIyiahu NuEaeItcs, at
least for this year, until it has teen
definitely ascertained whether any of
them are iuacuated with the Brown
Tail Moth. regardless of the fact that
| well know some of the most reliable
nurseryrnen III the country are n
Maryland.
Respectfully,
Jno. j Cornwell,