The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1911-07-29
SOME DEVASTATING INSECTS.

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brown tail moths. These, will
white butterflies~and pine beetles
would soon destroy the largest
forests in the state. The de.
struction by fire in our forests
would be less in dollars and cents
than the obstruction that can be
wrought in a short time by an
attack of the gypsy moths. y
This statement by William l..
Finley, President of the Oregon
Audubon Society, is based upon
two newspaper reports, one from
Tacoma and one from Portland,
The former states that the brown
tailed moth has infested the
Rainier Valley, near Seattle, and
that the state commissioner OF
horticulture has ordered the at
fected under quarantine. The
latter is in the form of a com
munication stating that what APP
pears to be the gipsy moth has
made its appearance in South
east Portland.
When it is realized that entire
forests are stripped of their foli-
age and left as barren as tele-
graph poles within a few days,
that vast areas of timber country
are actually destroyed by the at
tacks of the gypsy and brown
tail moths, it is time that n
thorough investigation was
made to ascertain whether there
be any truth in these runners.
The gipsy moth was imported
into this country for scientific
purposes in 1868. While they
were carefully kept in captivity
for some time, they finally broke
away and within twenty years,
New England was attacked by
them in such numbers that entire
forests were striped in n short
time. The legislature of Massa-
chusetts appropriated $50, 600
for their determination, but to
little avail. Within ten years,
over 81, 900, 900 was spent in the
work, followed by an appropria-
ton of $500, 600 in one year, yet
the gypsy moth was unconquered.
The state finally gave up the
work, and one property owner
spent over $75, 900 on his own
estate in an effort to stem the
fearful slaughter of the trees.
1t will not take long for the
Oregon farmer, fruit grower or
timber owner to appreciate the
enormity of this fearful destruc-
ton, after investigating the fail
ure of the state of Massachusetts.
What would happen to these
magnificent Oregon forests,
should the gypsy moth once gain
a foothold? No one can tell,
for the financial loss would be
greater than could ever result |
from fire.
1t is the experience of the
Biological Survey of the Depart
ment of Agriculture that once
these frightful enemies of the
tree invade timber country.
they cannot be destroyed. 1t is
urged that the best that can be
done is to check them. If rs
of the total is destroyed.
a good work has been done.
The scientific checking of this
pest is outlined in several bulle-
tins that have been issued by the
Bureau of Biological Survey and
great emphasis is laid upon the
natural check provided by bird
life.
The chickdee, nuthatch, BUSH
hit, warbler, sparrow and wood
Decker, of the Oregon birds, are
Known to be the worst enemies
% the gypsy moth that we have.
Many sections of the country q
nave been watched by scientists 6
With the idea of ascertaining to
What extend these birds actually /
'eed upon moth. The result has
'een astonishing. These inves-
igations have demonstrated that
hese birds have an economical
'alue in the destruction of in
ect pests in our forests that no !
me can approximate. Upon i
pening the stomachs of the !
'irds, it has been found that the n
principal diet was insects and
moths that are detrimental to a
crest growth. 1t is a popular
'elief that birds of certain kinds :
re destructive to fruit trees,
While an analysis of bird stom-
chs show conclusively that in