Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1910-01-06
Jefferson Comt,W tvhgna1h hus
To Fruit Growers and Purchasers Of
Nursery Stock.

To Fruit Growers and Purchasers Of
Nursery Stock.
desire to call attention of orchardiSts
in this State and especially in the eastern
panhandle TO matter Of great importance,
possible danger, if not carefully safe
guarded.
The Maryland Agricultural Experiment
Station, by its bulletin No. l34, discloses
the fact that Maryland nurserymen. 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 preceding year, refers to the fact
that it was learned that the Brown Tail
Moth was probably on some OF the seed
lings being imported from France; that as
soon as it got this information il ordered
all the nurserymen to hold their imported
stock in boxes until the Station could send
an expert to examine it; that 100000
seedlings were thus inspected and IOO
nests of the Brown Tail Moth were dis
covered and burned. The bulletin frank
ly expresses doubt as to whether all were
found and destroyed.
In view of this il seems to me 10 be oi
the very greatest importance that the ut
most care be exercised by orchardists IN
buying stock of Maryland nurseries, es-
pecially of those nurseymen who have
been importing their seedlings from Eu-
rope. In cases where persons have al
ready bought stock from any such nur-
series the only safe thing is to request the
West Virginia Experimental Station to
send a competent man TO make careful
inspection OF the stock to find, ifpoSsible
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 great
est possible calamity This can be un-
derstood when it is recalled that in the
States of Massachusetts,, New Hampshire,
Connecticut Maine and Rhode Island
$500, 900 is being expended this year to
fight this pest, one-half OF the amount ap-
propriated by the Federal Government
and the other half by the States.
II was first found in Massachusetts
along in the early ninetieS. Some say II
was imported on rose stocks. other that a
scientist who brought some Of the pests
over from Europe for experimental pur-
poses allowed one of the moth to get ou'
of the window and make its escape. In
any event the increase was marvellous.
The little caterpillar hatched from the egg
laid by the moth have eaten not only the
fruit trees of the New England States ou'
absolutely destroyed the shade trees
around many OF the cities and towns
Massachusetts, first began the fight IN
earnest in 1905, when the Legislature ap-
propriated $l50,0OO TO carry on the war
of determination. With all the money
and labor expended it has been barely
held in check.
Another feature about them, annoying
and dangerous, is the fact that the cater
pillars, at certain age, shed their hairs
or barbs, which, when they become dry,
float about in the air. On striking the
skin these SET up an inflammation or lr-
ritation.
have no disposition TO appear as an
alarnist, but any one can learn from In
quiry, what destructive, expensive and
irritating pest the Brown Tail Moth has
proven in New England. The Maryland
Bulletin referred to notifies the world that
this horrid thing was imported by Mary
land nurserymen; that they burned up
700 nests (enough TO inoculate halt the
country and doubt if they cot them all
The question is, should any west VIZ
ginia farmer or fruit grower run the risE
Of buying this peSt2
feel il my duty, in view OF my posi-
ton as the President OF the State hor-
ticuItural Society, to call public attention
TO this matter and advise against purchase
from Maryland nurseries, at least TOR this
wear. until it has been definitely ascer'
tanned whether any Of them are inocu'
lated with the Brown Tail Moth, re-
gardless of the fact that well know some
of the most reliable nurserymen in the
country are in Maryland.
Respectfully,
JNo. J. CoRNWELL
President West Virginia State Horicul-
tural Society.