from pp. 167-9, "Burlapping" Early in the summer of 1891 burlap or bagging was first used by the employees of the State Board of Agriculture as a means of assembling the gypsy-moth caterpillars so that they might be readily found and destroyed. It was noticed that before the caterpillars had attained half their growth, they daily left the leaves on which they had fed during the night and clustered in sheltered places, such as cavities in the trunks of trees or the under sides of branches or other natural objects. They began this swarming in the second week in June. As they grew larger the tendency to seek shelter during the day became more and more noticeable. They often wandered in search of shelter, leaving trees which did not offer secure hiding places and retiring to rubbish heaps, stone walls and other places of refuge to pass the day. It was seen that whenever old garments, cloth or paper were thrown in the forks or wound around the trunks or branches of infested trees, the shelter of such materials was sought by the larvae during the heat of the day. The bulky nests of the English sparrow also served them as hiding-places. The conclusion having been reached at this time that spraying with Paris green was only partially successful in destroying the caterpillars, other means of destruction were sought. Experiments were made to find an inexpensive yet durable shelter which would prove attractive to the caterpillars, and which could be readily examined by the men, thus serving in a measure the purpose of a trap. A cheap eight-ounce burlap was found to be the best material for this purpose. A large quantity of baled burlap was purchased and cut into strips about twelve inches wide. These strips were made into rolls which the workmen carried suspended from the shoulder. Each man was provided with a sheath knife. When a tree was to be "burlapped," the end of a roll was passed around the trunk at a height of four or five feet from the ground, and enough cut off to encircle the tree and lap sufficiently at the ends to allow for shrinkage (See Plate XXXI.) The burlap was held in place by twine tied around both tree and cloth. The upper half of the burlap was turned down over the twine, so that it hung like a tablecloth suspended around the tree. Although the edges hung loosely, the centre was bound quite securely to the trunk of the tree. If the trunk and branches offered no better hiding-places to the caterpillars, most of those on a tree would crawl down, morning after morning, and seek the shelter of the burlap, remaining there during the greater part of the day. When thus assembled, they were killed by the employees of the Board, who daily went their rounds from tree to tree, raising each half of the burlap separately and cutting or crushing the caterpillars beneath. Most of the larvae are found on the bark behind the burlap, but some are taken between the folds. When, in the search for larvae, the burlap is examined for the first time, it is left turned up against the tree. At the second examination itis turned down. It is turned up at the next visit, down at the next and so on. By following this plan any band that has been missed will attract attention. Experience indicates that the number of caterpillars taken is not materially affected, whether the band is left up or down; yet for general use it should be turned down, as it sheds rain better and presents a neater appearance. Where the caterpillars are massed, they may be quickly crushed by a wisp of straw or a wad of old cloth. Where few are found, they may be cut in two by the knife and brushed off the tree. Care must be taken not to crush them with the bare hand, as their hairs when brought forcibly in contact with the skin sometimes casue an irritation much like that produced by nettles. The burlap band in no way prevents the caterpillars from ascending or descending the tree, neither does it entrap those which it shelters. But it was soon seen that most of the caterpillars which descended the tree remained under the burlap during the day, and that others which were restlessly roaming about on the ground often ascended the tree to the same shelter. Still others, fully grown and ready to pupate, retired to the cover of the burlap to undergo their last transformations, and the female moths emerging would often deposit their eggs upon or beneath it. The larvae seek the burlap in greatest numbers during very hot weather, when they usually come down the trees in the early morning hours, go under the burlap and remain there during the heat of the day. The greater number keep on the shady side of the tree, moving with the sun so as to avoid its direct rays. A few leave the burlap during the day, but most of them remain until evening. Observations made on a small apple tree showed that an average of sixty-six per cent of the larvae on the tree gathered daily under the burlap.

We ate brunch this morning at Egg in Williamsburg, which is the pre-noon incarnation of Sparky's hot dog joint at North 5th. I can already tell this is my new favorite breakfast place. Maybe I just hit the strong points early--a candied grapefruit with mint (they grill the fruit slightly, which seems to draw the juices out and caramelizes it around the edges); this was the best grapefruit I have ever eaten. Followed up with the country ham and biscuit with fig jam and grits, which looked small but was unbelievably filling. I love my ham, and I can honestly say this was a very high quality ham sammich; the fig rounds out the saltiness of the Kentucky ham just enough to let the butter in the biscuit cut through. I'm still totally drooling. Next time I'll go in on the sausage gravy; I'm a big fan of Hope and Union's biscuits and gravy, so the prospect of having two interpretations within walking distance is just about making me cry. Also, you can see that Egg provides the crucial paper tablecloth and crayons for those hung-over Saturday mornings--or weekday mornings, for some of you; Egg is open seven days a week from 7 to noon. Williamsburg, North 5th between Bedford and Berry.