The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-03-25
THE MOTH
SITUATION
Visit to the Eastern, Vermont
Area Infested with the
BrOwntails
COMMISSIONER TELLS
HOW TO FIGHT PEST
Prompt Measures in Dealing with
Problem at Outset May Be the
Means of Saving Much Money and
Avoidance of Great Annoyance.

Avoidance of Great Annoyance.
f. s. Brigham, commissioner of agri-
culture and L. H. Worthy, an expert
of the bureau of entomology of the
United States department of agriculture,
visited a short time ago, the area on
the east side of the state Infested with
the browntail moth. Mr.. Worthy re-
ports that he found the infestatiOn of
the moth quite general throughout the
area and mostly confined to shade and
orchard trees and wild cherry bushes
along the walls in fields. He judges
from his observations that there is but
little danger of the browntail moth in
Testing our woodlands to any great ex-
tent as apparently the predominant
growth is not susceptible to their feed
ing and webbing habits. He also states
that it must be borne in mind in suppress
ing these insects that yearly invasion
may be expected owing to their power
of flight and that in his opinion the
state would not be justified in making
campaign to SUPPRESS the browntaiI
moth in the woodlands.
His advice is to remove the winter
webs from the shade and orchard trees
and cherry bushes along the walls,
where they are liable to occur, and to
furnish as much information as possible
to the residents of the infested area
relative to the control of the insect
Mr.. Worthy recommends that small
gangs of men should be organized, say
two men to a town, and given good
facilities for getting around as quickly
as possible and visiting the most likely
places for infestations to occur.
He also advises the employment of an
experienced man for the greater part
of the year to act as inspector, to see
that the work of cleaning up the win
ter nests is properly done, to instruct
the residents in the infested districts as
/ to the life history of the insect and the
/ best means of holding it in check, so
/ that property owners may ultimately be
prepared to handle this problem them
selves should it be impossfbfe to pre-
I vent their further spread and, further
more to cooperate in the planting of
4 parasites, and disease material, which
have been found of value in holding the
insect in check. ->>tHz
In line with these recommendations
the commissioner of agriculture, on APP,
prevail of the governor, in order that
Vermont, at the outset, may profit by
the experience of Massachusetts in deal
ing with this problem, has engaged the
services of Harold L. Bailey of New
bury, Mass, to give as much time as
may be necessary to the work of sup
pressing this insect. Mr.. Bailey has
been moth superintendent in a Massa
chusetts town for some years so that
he has had practical experience in deal
ing with the insect problem and he has
had considerable training in the gov
eminent laboratory at Melrose High
lands, Mass.
Gangs of men have been organized il
over one half of the p towns in the
infested districts and the winter nest
are being clipped off and destroyed b.
burning as rapidly as possible 1t i
hoped to cover the whole number O
| towns infested by April 10. 1t shout,
| be borne in mind also that the gyps,
moth which is a worse pest than tn,
| browntail moth, and which overshad
| ows it in disaster caused wherever i
/ appears, already has made it's way t
II the borders of southwestern Vernon
II and it is only Il question of time whei
II colonies of this insect may be expecte
II in Vermont. When we consider that tn
state of Massachusetts has spent tie
IL millions of dollars on these insects an
: is now appropriating three hundred an
:. fifteen thousand dollars annually f0
their suppression, we see how importan
4 it is that all possible means be used t
| check their further progress at the boz
| ders of this state.
i Mr.. Bailey will inspect all place