The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-09-30
FALL PROTECTIVE WORK
AGAINST THE MOTHS
Effective Means OF Reducing Further
Damage 10 Orchard and Forests by
Gypsy and Brown-Tail Moths.

|
duce the damage that these insects
: are likely to cause the following year
, according to entomologists Of tn,
, United States Department Of Agricul'
] ture. The caterpillars OF the brown
tail moth spin web in the fall which
remains on the tips of the twigs anc
branches during the winter. These
webs should be cut and burned so that
injury will not be caused by the cater.
pillars the following summer. Par
ticular attention should be given tc
webs of this insect on trees which
grow around dwellings or in orchards
The apple, pear, cherry, oak and
willow are among the plants which
are favored as food by the brown-tail
moth caterpillars. In order to mini
mize the damage which is likely to
result, as much time as possible should
be devoted to- cutting and burning
worthless or seeding apple trees and
wild cherry trees and brush. II this
is done along the roadways and fences,
the appearance of the region will be
rgeatly improved. Care should be
taken to protect pine and other conf
ferrous trees, and hickory and ash
should not be cut as they are not fav-
ored for food either by the caterpil-
lars of the gipsy moth or by those Of
the brown-tail moth. A general
cleanup such as has been mentioned
will greatly assist in controlling this
insect. The oak is a favored food of
the brown-tail moth and Of the gypsy
moth, and wherever 1t is possible to
ELIMINATE oaks less annoyance from
these pests will be experienced.
In cutting wood in the winter for
the purposes Of fuel, the farmer
would do well to select and cut trees
which are favored as food by these
insects. In this way he will not only
secure the fuel which he desires, but
will at the same time decrease the
food supply of the pests mentioned.
1t is needless to say that in cutting
wood for fuel, all sickly or diseased
trees should be selected SO that the
stand that remains will be healthy and
vigorous. Each owner must make the
selection for himself, but great deal
can be accomplished by planning the
work a little in advance so that the
necessary amounts Of fuel can be OBJ
tanned, the preferred food plants OF
these insects reduced in number, and
the condition of the woodlot improved.
The gipsy moth occurs in the egg
stage during the winter, and much
valuable work can be done in bringing
about its control by treating the egg
masses with creosote, applied with a
brush This destroys the eggs so that
the next brood Of caterpillars is re-
duced
For the information of residents Of
the district infested by the gypsy moth
and the brown-tail moth, it should be
said that this area has been placed un
der quarantine by the Federal Horti-
cultural Board and that nursery stock
and living plants can not be shipped
outside the area unless the trees or
plants have been examined by an au-
inspector. The same pro-
ducts, as well as Christmas trees, for
est products, and stone and quarry
products, can not be shipped outside
the area infested by the gypsy moth
unless they have been inspected and
certified to be free from this insect
The purpose Of this quarantine is to
prevent these insects from becoming
in other parts Of the
United States.
Webs of the brown-tail moth which
are present on the trees during the
winter, and egg clusters Of the gypsy
moth which may be on trees, cord I
wood, lumber, boxes, crates, or other !
containers which are stored near in !
tested trees are likely TO be shipped
Iong distances. For this reason, all |
owners should be particularly careful
10 keep their grounds free from these !
Insects, and, in case shipments Of any ]
kind are TO be made, to notify the
nearest inspector so that there will be
no delay in having the examination c
made in order that the goods may go
forward without disappointment eth I
r. to the shipper or purchaser. q
Gipsy moth or brown-tail moth in
should be treated with spec
al care on grounds from which wood '
,r plant products are 10 be shipped.
The work on these insects which is a
,eing carried on by the Department I
S directed from the branch Office Of 7
he Bureau Of Entomology, AZ Ire
mont street, Boston, Mass.
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THE VT. EXPERIMENT STA. 1
RIfIIFTINS Is9 AND 1870