The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-12-21
MARKED DECREASE
IN GYPSY MOTHS
The Report of Government Entomologist
Shows Progress of Campaign Against
Insects Attacking Animals and Crops,
as Well as Those Affecting the
Health of Man.

I Health of Man.
The control of such dangerous insect
as the gypsy moth, cotton'boll wecvi
alfalfa wcevil, green bug, and potato +,
bermoth, has kept the office of th
United States department of agricu
lures entomogolst busy during the pas
year, according to the new annual re
, port. Besides directing its attention t
combating insects that attack crops, tn
Office has been active in attempting t
eradicate insects that affect the healt
Of man and animals, such as malaria
bearing mosquitoes, the spotted.feve
tick and the typhoid fly. Special AT
tention has been given to insects injur
ing forests and those affecting store
products such as grain, flour. prepared &c
reals, meat, and cheese. Work in be-
culture has also progressed satisfactorily
The gypsy moth campaign, waged alst
against it's cousin, the brOwn-tail moth
has been very encouraging, there beins
a marked decrease this year in the mum
bers of both these pests. Parasites ant
bestles that attack these dangerous in
sccts have been introduced and have beer
largely instrumental in bringing about
good results. Colored posters were pre-.
pared by the office illustrating the gypsy
moth and its natural enemies and these
were posted in all postotices and town
Offices in the infected districts and copies
were sent to oranges and public libraries.
The campaign has also been waged by
mail and boy scouts, who have distribut-
ed cards bearing the same illustrations.
Development of Insecticides.
A combination spray, composed >.
lime sulphur, arsenate OF lead, and nico
tine has been used successful during the
year by many orchard growers to control
insects and fungous diseases. Other pois-
ons to control orchard insects have been
developed and are now being tested. Ar
senical sprays are being made more prac-
ticable for use in combating cranberry
pests in New Jersey. Effective spraying
has also been done in the pecan orchards
OF the South, interested growers aiding
the department in the work. Remedies
are also being recommended and deyel-
oped for pests that endanger apple, peach
ana pear ofcnafus
Boil Weevil.
The boil weevil did about S30,0O0000
worth OF damage to the cotton crop In
1913. as estimated in the new report OF
the entomologist. Nearly $4,000 square
miles of new territory became infested
during the year. Every effort is being
made TO control these depredations, par
ticularly by the use of powdered orthoar-
senate of lead. and hand picking of cot
ton squares and bolls. Arsenate OF lead
was tried with varying results and tn
question of its success under practical
plantation conditions to-day remains IN.
decided.
Violets Endanger Cotton Fields.
Niolets growing around cotton fell I
seem to give another cotton pest, the red (
spider. an opportunity 70 work. and thu I
department. recommends the dcstructiu +
# this harmless appearing flower to cor
rol the spider. Other measures suggest
d as result of Investigations in South .
arolna are the destruction of winter
God plants and pokeweed around fields,
he blowing Of wide dust barriers around 1
ISOLATED infested places, and spraying
With potassium snlphid.
Control of Insects Harmful to Man
Investigations OF buffalo gnats" AMI
heir possible relation 10 pellagra have
and il now seems unlikely that
hey have any relation 10 that dangerous
II ase. II seems more probable tina
he typhoid fiy commonly spoken Of as
he "house ny"l does more to transmit
bis infection along with the numerous
Their diseases laid at its door.
The typhoid ny itself is given his share
/ attention and means of control Nv
-cating manure. where the hv breeds
re- being developed. Ii seems that tho
Y can BE- almost completely controlled
the manure and the value OF the Ter
lzer remain unchanged If applications
commercial borax are made at the rate
OBJ pound to 10 cubic feet eight
ishels Of manure.
isects Which Damage Telegraph Poles.
yestigations have been carried on 60
scovcr remedies for insects which dam
e such forest products as telegraph
lies. railroad ties. and tool handles
sers Of these products are now putting
e results OF the offices Investigations Il
practical tests. With hardwood prod &
q liable 90 attack by the so-callel Ii
wderpost beetles Il has been found H
al kerosene and linsecd oil are effective Is
pellents against these Insects A rath Is
general utilization Of these oils by Is
lnufacturers has followed this discov q
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