Brown
Tail Moths that are infesting the trees in the township. For particulars
apply to Mayor's Office, Town Hall.

Three Prizes Offered: $100 $60 $40.

"Say, was that opportunity, after all?" asked Babe in wide-eyed amazement
when he read the poster.

And every boy looked at every other boy and wondered.

If there are any who do not believe that boys can become genuinely
interested in study, they should have visited the Quarry Troop
headquarters a few days after the discovery of the work of the bill
poster. For at least three consecutive afternoons a dozen lads spent
their time in the big meeting room on the second floor poring over dry
looking pamphlets which bore the stamp of the Bureau of Entomology of the
United States Department of Agriculture.

They were all perusing this literature with the one purpose--to learn as
much as they could about the habits of the brown tail moths, for they
hoped in their study to discover some new and original way to exterminate
the pest and thereby win one of the three generous prizes offered by the
town authorities. But though they pursued the subject relentlessly none
of them seemed able to generate an idea that smacked of originality.

"Aw, say, fellows, this will never do," said Babe Wilson. "We can't
compete in this contest. We don't know anything about chemistry or
things like that. Why, we don't even know a Brown Tail moth when we see
one." He disconsolately tossed away his pamphlet and shoved his hands
into his pockets.

"Pshaw, don't give up so soon," said Bud Weir. "This reading isn't very
gay but all the same we are learning some things we should know. And
even if we are not familiar with chemistry, we may be able to figure out
a way of getting rid of them by means of some mechanical appliance."

"I think this is mighty interesting," said Bruce, looking up from his
leaflet. "I know now what's ailing those apple trees down back of our
barn. The Brown Tail moths are in them. Listen to this: 'The principal
injury caused by these moths is due to the feeding habits of the larva.
They attack apple, pear, plum, oak, elm and willow trees. If the
infestation is bad the caterpillars are often numerous enough to devour
the leaves as fast as the trees are able to develop them. As the webs
are made on the terminals the growth of the tree is frequently checked.'

"Those apple trees of ours haven't had a full grown leaf on them this
Spring and there are webs in t