The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-03-24
REMOVE WINTER WEBS
OF THE BROWNTAIL
An Expert Gives Advice To vermonters
on Best Methods of Wiping
Out the Pest.

H. S. Brigham, commissioner OF agri
tculture and l.. III. Worthy, an expert
of the bureau of entomology of tn,
United States department of agricul-
ture, visited, short time ago, the area
on the east side of the state infested
with the browntail moth Mr.. Worth
ly reports that he found the infesta-
tion OF the moth quite general through
tout the area and mostly confined to
shade and orchard trees and wild cherry
bushes along the walls in fields.
lie judges from his observations that
there is but little danger OF the brown
tail moth infesting our woodlands to
any great extent as apparently the pre-
dominant growth is not susceptible TO
their feeding and webbing habits. He
also states that it must be borne in
mind in supppressihg these insects that
a yearly invasion may be expected ow-
ing to their power of fight and that in
his opinion the state would not be JUS
titled in making a campaign to suppress
the browntail 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.. Worth
~ recommends that small gangs of men
should be organized, say two men to a
town and given good facilities for get
ting around as quickly as possible and
visiting the most likely places for in
festations to occur.
He also advises the employment of
an experienced man for the greater part
of the year to act as inspector, to sec
that the work of cleaning up the winter
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
chat property owners may ultimately be
prepared to handle this problem them
selves should it be Impossible to pre-
more to cooperate in the planting of
and disease material, which |
have been found OF value in holding the
insect in check.
Active Steps Taken.
In line with these recommendations
the commissioner OF agriculture, on APP
proval 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 Newbury,
Mass, to give as much time as may be
necessary to the work OF suppressing i
this insect. Mr.. Bailey has been moth
in a Massachusetts town
for some years, so that he has had prac-
teal experience in dealing with the in
sect problem and he has had considerable
training in the government laboratory
It Melrose Highlands, Mass.
Gangs Of men have been organized IN
lyer one half of the 25 towns in the in
tested districts and the winter nests are
icing clipped off and destroyed by burn.
ng as rapidly as possible. Il is hoped
q cover the whole number OF towns in
ested BY April l5 1t should be borne
n mind also that the gypsy moth, which
j worse pest than the browntail moth,
md which overshadows il in disaster
aused wherever it appears, already has
made its way to the borders OF south
astern Nemnont and it is only a ques-
ion Of time when colonies of this in
ect may be expected in Vermont. When
re- consider that the state Of Massa-
hnsetts has spent ten millions OF dol
ars on these insects and is now APP
ropriating three hundred and fifteen 7
thousand dollars annually for their sup
ression. we see how important it Is that
II possible means be used to check their
urther progress at the borders Of this
tate.
Mr.. Bailey will inspect all places along 4
he border Of the state in the interior
here inIestations are likely TO occur
uring the coming summer and the COM
Missioner Of agriculture asks the CO. II
peration OF all the people in the way 4
/ reporting the finding Of colonies Of y
lesc pests so that prompt measures
Iay be taken for their determinations.
he means BY which these insects spread
re numerous. They may come on goods A
hch are shipped into the state from
tested areas in Massachusetts, and New q
ampshire. The automobile and rail-