Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-01-15
TO FRUIT GROWERS
president Of West Virginia State Hor
ticultural Society Writes inter
esting Letter.
esting Letter.

CStiu9 AGANNts
| desire 10 call attention OF orchard
lists in this State and especially In the
eastern panhandle to a matter of great
importance, a possible danger, If moi
carefully safe-guarded.
The Maryland Agriculture Expert
ment Station, by its bulletin No. 1874
discloses the fact that Maryland nur-
serymen, whose names are not given
| imported last year the European pest
known as the Brown Tail Moth" The
! bulletin. in explaining the amount OF
work done by the Station for the pre-
ceding year, refers to the fact that il
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 1t or
dered all the nurserymen to hold
their imported stock in boxes until the
Station could send an expert to ex-
anime it; that l 100000 seedlings were
thus inspected and 700 nests of the
Brown Tail Moth were discovered and
burned The bulletin frankly ex-
presses doubt as to whether all were
found and destroyed.
In view of this it seems to me to be
of the very greatest importance that
the utmost care be exercised by CT
ehardists in buying stock OF Maryland
nurseries, especially of those nursery
men who have been importing their
seedlings from Europe. In cases where
persons have already bought stock
from any such nurseries the only safe
thing is to request the West Virginia
Experiment Station to send compe-
tent man to make a careful inspection
of the stock to find If possible, any
nests of the moth, so they can be de-
stroyed.
The Introduction of this pest into
the orchards of our State would be
the greatest possible calamity This
can be understood when it Is recalled
that in the States of Massachusetts.
New Hampshire, Connecticut and
Rhode Island $4,000 is being expend-
ed this year to fight this pest, one-half
of the amount appropriated by the
Federal Government and the other
half by the States.
1t was first found in Massachusetts
along in the early nineties, Some day
that scientist who brought some of
the pests over from Europe for expert
mental purposes allowed one OF the
moth to get out of the window and
make its escape. In any event the in
crease was marvellous. The little cat
erpillar Matched from the egg laid by
the moth have eaten not only the fruit
trees of the New England States 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 $150,000 TO carry on the
war of determination. With all the
money and labor expended 1t has been
barely held in check.
Another feature about them, annoy
ing and dangerous, is the fact that
the caterpillars at a certain age, shed
their hair or barbs, which. when they
become dry float about in the air. On
striking the skin these set up an in
fiammation or irritation.
l have no disposition to appear as
an alarmist, but any one can learn
from inquiry, what a destructive, ex-
pensive and irritating pest the Brown
Tail Moth has proven in New England
The Maryland Bulletin referred to no.
titles the world that this horrid thing
was imported by Maryland Nursery
men; that they burned up 700 nests
(enough to inoculate half the country
and doubt if they got them all. The
question is, should any West Virginia
+ farmer or fruit grower run the risk
OF buying this pest?
feel 1t my duty in view OF my posi-
ton as the President Cf the State Hor.
| ticultural Society, to call public atten-
! ton to this matter and advise against
purchase from Maryland nurseries. at
least for this year, until it has been
definitely ascertained whether any of
them are inoculated with the Brown
Tail Moth, regardless of the fact that
! | know me of the most reliable
nurserymen in the country are in
Maryland
Respectfully.
JOHN J. CORNWELL,
President West Virginia State Hertz
cultural Society.