| Show 5 SERIOUS PEST OF ORCHARDS injury caused by brown tall moth cannot be estimated in terms of dollars and cents 1 by T SIMONS j the brown tall moth Is one ot the coldest caterpillar pests of europe and ailt Is very strange that the nests 0 this insect were not imported into this country earlier than they really were this european pest was first ob served in the united states in massa chu in the early nineties having been brought in on some roses from its introduction to 1898 no direct et fort was made to retard its spread al though the state legislature had passed a law requiring local authorities to suppress the insect in 1898 an ap of 10 was made for the suppression of the brown tall moth from 1900 to 1904 no con effort through state funds was made against the gypsy and brown tall moths in massachusetts individual effort by local towns and private par ties met with oaly partial success inuring this interval these two pests gained a tremendous headway and it was necessary for the state to appropriate in per annum to aid in the control of these insects the following year was ap and in 1909 this was in creased to by the united instates government and the states of massachusetts new hampshire con maine and rhode island tor work in the suppression of these A mass of imported seedlings show ing nests of brown tall moth pests in new england in addition the enormous expense to towns all lages and private individuals through 1 I their effort to protect and save their and the loss of timber and the depreciation of real estate will bring the cost of these two insect pests in isea england states alone lanto many millions of dollars As pests are rapidly spreading into many other sections of the country it everyone to spare no means to prevent their establishment according to the various writers the principal spread gatses place through the flight of the moths lust after they emerge from the i stage into adult moths which Is usual aly during the early part of july the 1 flight of these moths takes place at night they are seldom seen flying in i the daytime the injury caused by this insect where established can hardly be estl 1 mated in terms of dollars and cents athe foliage of all fruit trees especial ly pear and apple where available seems to be the preferred food of the caterpillar but they freely attack all shade trees including the oaks ma pies elms and the like pines spruced spruces and other conifers are the only exceptions this extensive range I 1 of food plants shows the possibilities of severe damage to our trees and shrubs it this pest becomes established in addition to the injury to fruit shade and forest trees there is an other feature which if not alarming Is troublesome and endangers the public health the caterpillar bears tiny which are barbed when the in sects molt these barbed hairs are ched these hairs float about in the air and are a constant source of brou trou ble to persons living in an infested district when these hairs come in contact with the skin they cause severe irritation and an annoying rash is the result this of itself should cause strong measures looking to the elimination of this pest to be adopted FERTILIZE THE SMALL FRUIT Excellent Plan wh strawberry plant to mulch along december with stable manure it Is hardly possible to use too much manure in the email fruit garden fer is the basis of all great crops of berries after strawberries are started a very good way to manure la to mulch in december with stable lit ter raking off the coarser material in spring what Is left will have a tell ing effect upon the coming crop unless athla has been done do not at tempt to apply manure but you may haul it in to the raspberry and currant rows also the gooseberries goose berries and black berries apply it liberally this Is no place to economize throw ac on six inches deep all about the bushes and it you can command enough labor to dig it into the coil all the better if you have no time for this the work Is very profitable rains will carry the nourishing elements down to the roots and the roughage left will be P desirable mulch f |
