The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-11-21
WAR ON THE PINE BEETLE.

Whenever you talk about cotton or
pine trees everybody in the South SITS
up and takes notice because they are
two of our HE sources Of wealth.
AS the lumber of the world is getting
scarce, it behooVes the Southern peo-
pie, instead of trying to rush their
pine timber to market, to conserve 1t
and dispose of it slowly as they should
do their cotton, but the important
thing they must do. according to the
L. S. Department of Agriculture, is
to make war upon the pine beetle. In
designations have been made in all the
Southern States, particularly in Vir-
ginia n West Virginia, with the re-
suit hat the death Of a large per
centage Of the pines in Virginia and
West Virginia in 1890 to 1898, was
due TO the invasion of the Southern
pine beetle which attacked healthy
trees and girdled and killed them by
inserting their long winding burrows
beneath the living bark Of the main
trunks of the trees. 1t has also been
shown that this beetle has existed in
the Southern States forty years, but it
is only at comparatively long intervals
that it increases to such numbers as to
cause widespread depreciation. The
diving and dead trees occur as scatter
ing individuals or in clumps, large
patches and in some places, whole
forests. All are more or less cOnspicu-
Gus by their fading red, black or de-
nuded tops, plainly indicating the
presence Of the beetle or the progress
of its work.
Mr.. a. d. Hopkins, in charge Of the
forest insect Investigations. gives these
four most important evidences Of the
presnce and work Of the bttele:
u. If in clumps or patches of pine,
where there is no plain evidence of Sc
rious injury by fire, the foliage fades
to pale green and changes to yelloWlsh
and pale brown, it indicates that the
trees are dying from the attack OF the
Southern pine beetle and hat the bark
'on such trees is infested with the de-
veloping broods of minute white grubs
and transforming beetles Therefore,
such trees are a menace to h living
trees.
"2. IL the trees have reddish brown
and partially fallen foliage, or if all Of
II1G lOl1dSe lldS ldIlcH, IL liid1CdtSS tl1o%
the brOods Of beetles have emerged
and that such trees are no longer a
menace to the living mes.
IS. If the trees die during the Pc.
Rod between the first Of March and
the first Of October, they will be aban-
doned by the breeds Of beetles within
q few weeks after the foliage begins
to fade.
80. If the trees begin to die during
the period between the first Of Octo-
Der and the first of December the
broods Of beetles win remain in the
bark until in March or April.
The damage being done by these
beetles Is SO great that all owe the
South agitation has begun for the pur-
pose Of securing destruction OF the
pine beetle. h Greater Charlotte
Club, which has done many good
things for that city and the South, has
called q meeting to be held in Char
lotte on the Gath of this month to plan
for a systematic war for the destruc-
ton OF the pine beetle. This is a mat
ter of great Interest to the who'll
South, and the action taken in Char
lotte by the people to get an effective
organization will be appreciated, and
should receive the cooperation Of all
Southern people. Charlotte has con-
tracted a habit of making a success of
what it undertakes. It is the duty Of
all TO help the Charlotte meeting or
sanize this work upon such a scale as
will make II great.