Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-08-05
Thev Fear the Moth plague.


Alarmed by the invasion OF the gypsy
and brown-tail moths into New York from
New England. where their ravageS have
cost the people many millions OF dollars.
thousands of leaders among the agricul-
tural communities of every section of the
country are today joining movement to
ward off this crop plague by protecting
the birds that serve as its greatest check.
Acting upon this emergency demand from
the farming interests, the National Asso-
citation of Audubon Societies has estab-
lished national information bureau at
l4l Broadway, New York, from which
instructions for preserving and increasing
the numbers of the insect-eating birds are
being distributed throughout the country.
If every American who is interested in the
crop wealth of the land will join this CAM
paign OF practical education at once, it is
declared by chronological experts, there
may yet be some hope of averting the
moth plague which threatens to sweep the
continent.
Three main lines of work have been
projected by the leaders in this movement
on behalf of the countrY's agricultural in
terests. Sentiment in favor of the protec-
ton of birds is to be crystallized, compre-
hensive and drastic laws to this end en-
acted, and every possible means used to
attract birds and thus increase their num-
Der to combat the insect crop pests. Ev-
cry State, county and town where proper
protection of the insect-eating birds has
not been provided or whose bird laws are
not enforced, will fall an easy prey TO the
costly ravages of the spreading moths, it
is shown. Failure TO take up an active
campaign such as is proposed can only be
undone in the face of the moth plague by
years of hard labor and millions of dollars
OF the taxpayers money. il has been
proved by the government and State au-
thorities.
The Empire State is massing great
force of experts near Port Chester, where
these insect pests have just crossed the
border line on their way West. If this
advancing column is not checked, it will
cost the people many millions OF dollars
in the near future to make up for the de-
pletion OF its wild birds, due to years Of
tax laws, it is estimated. In other States
in the path of this pest, where little legis-
lation exists to prevent the slaughter of
the insect eaters, campaigns are already
on foot TO rouse the people to the serious
ness of the situation. For years the mill
inery interests have prevented the farm
ers from securing real bird protection in
New York State, it is pointed out, and
now the whole commonwealth must pay
the penalty.
every American who cares for the
preservation Of the nations agricultural
wealth will find us ready and glad to tell
him what he can do to help in this emer-
gency," said William butcher, president
of the National Association OF Audubon
Societies at its headquarters, l4l Broad
way. "Wild birds can be attracted by
erecting suitable bird houses, and in this
way increasing the number of birds in a
given locality. Birds will be found a far
more effective remedy to prevent the in
crease of these two insect pests than any
other means that can be employed. The
late Baron Won Berlepsch, on his estate
of 500 acres at Seebach, in the District OF
Langensalza, in Thuringia, experimental
along these lines for thirty years with the
most phenomenal success. A history Of
this experiment was published in Ger
man. 1t has been lately translated into
English, and may be obtained for few
cents from this association. The fecundi-
ty of the gypsy and brown-tail moth is
wonderful, and therefore every possible
effort should be made to stamp oui every
colony of them that is discovered in this
State or any other paIt OF the United
States before these pests can spread"