1908.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT- -No. 73. (59 



fortunately this was not carried far enough to make the use of 

 burlap most effective. A few trees were defoliated by the cat- 

 erpillars during the summer season. 



The work at Braintree in 1007 was handicapped to a con- 

 siderable extent by the fact that burlaps were not applied suf- 

 ficiently early in the season, and by the scarcity of help. 



The winter inspection now in progress shows upward of 400 

 infested estates, while to date the gypsy moth has been found 

 on but 67 street trees. It is absolutely necessary that the old 

 orchards should be given a thorough overhauling during the 

 winter and spring, and should be put in proper condition for 

 effective burlapping and spraying where necessary. The town 

 is in a serious condition as regards the gypsy moth, and much 

 thorough work will be required here in the future to hold the 



insect in check. 



BRIDGEWATER. 



R. J. MCNEELAND, Local Superintendent. 



The town of Bridgewater is not so badly infested with the 

 gypsy moth as are many towns in Plymouth County. In the 

 comparatively few colonies previously discovered the usual bur- 

 lap work was done last summer, and only 55 caterpillars were 

 found. During the fall scout, up to December 15, 14 colonies 

 of the gypsy moth not before known were found, the worst 

 infestation being in an orchard on Cherry Street, where 800 

 egg clusters were destroyed. The only other locality where egg- 

 clusters were found in great numbers was in a pasture on South 

 Street, where several large oaks were badly infested. On these, 

 1 ; 500 egg clusters were destroyed. 



The usual scraping, cementing and other preliminary work 

 will be done in infested orchards in this town before the bur- 

 lap season of 1908. In addition to burlapping, it is planned 

 to carry on next summer a vigorous spraying campaign against 

 the gypsy caterpillars where need arises. The gypsy moth in- 

 festation in Bridgewater may be expected to be much reduced 

 in 1908, for the work here has been carried on in a very thor- 

 ough manner by the local superintendent, and he has had at all 

 times adequate support from the selectmen and citizens. 



The brown-tail moths in Bridgewater are in rather small 

 numbers and the infestation is scattered. 



