The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-03-26
sRowNrAlL MOTH IN VERMONT
Experts Find Woodland on State In
Little Danger


Little Danger
st. Adams, March 23.-E. S. Brig
ham, commissioner of agriculture,
and L. H. Worthy, an expert of the
bureau of entomology of the United
States department of agriculture, Wis
tied, "a 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-
ton of the moth quite general
throughout the area and mostly con-
fined to shade and orchard trees and
wild cherry bushes along the walls in
fields He judges from his observa-
tons that there is but little danger
OF the browntail moth infesting Yer
mont woodlands to any great extent
as apparently the predominant growth
is not susceptible to their feeding and
webbing habits. He also states that
1t must be borne in mind in suppress
ing these insects that yearly invas-
ion 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
browntail moth in the woodlands.
His advise 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 in
tested area relative to the control of
the insect. Mr.. Worthy recommends
hot nf hn n
ganized, say two men to a town, and
given good facilities for getting
around as quickly as possible and vi
sitting 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 inspectator
to see 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 that property owners
may ultimately be prepared TO hand
lie this problem themselves should it
be impossible to prevent their fur
Their spread, and furthermore, to CO
operate in the planting of parasites
and disease material, which have
been found of value in holding the
insect in check.
In line with these recommends
tons the commissioner of agricul-
ture, on approval of the Governor, in
order that Vermont, at the outset,
may profit by the experience of
nnh, &c IL fva xn.ss l. 10,
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 supressing
this insect. Mr.. Bailey has been
moth superintendent in a Massachus
etts 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
government laboratory at Melrose
Highlands, Mass.
Gangs of men have been organic
ed in over one half of the 25 towns
in the infected districts" says Mr..
Brigham, land the winter nests are
being clipped off and destroyed by
burning as rapidly as possible 1t is
hoped to cover the whole number of
towns infested by April Is. 1t should
be borne in mind also that the gypsy
moth which is a worse pest than the
browntail moth, and which over
shadows IL in disaster caused wher-
ever 1t appears. already has made its
way to the borders of southern Yer
mont and it is only a question of
M tghn NJ 1.f-
may be expected in Vermont
when We consider that the State
of Massachusetts has spent ten mil
lions of dollars on these insects and
is now appropriating $3.50, 900 annu-
ally for their suppression, we see
how important it is that all possible
means be used to check their fur
Their progress at the borders of this
State.
mir. Bailey will inspect all places
along the border of the State in the
interior where infestations are like
ly to occur during the coming sum-
mer and the commissioner of agri-
culture asks the cooperation of all
the people in the way of reporting
the finding of colonies of these pests
so that prompt measures may be
taken for their determination. The
means by which these insects spread
are numerous. They may come on
goods which are shipped into the
State from infested areas in Massa.
chusetts and New Hampshire. The
automobile and railroad train is
convenient means of spread Care
full watch must be kept at summer
resorts which are frequented by PEG.
pie from Massachusetts because in
festations are very likely to occur at
such places.
Prompt measures used in dealing
with this problem now at the outset
may mean the saving of much money
later on and the avoidance of much
annoyance to our citizens and great
loss through damage done by these
insects"
ORDERS REST FOR THE POPE
Or. Marchlafava Eorhfde Eutber Al,