1908.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 73. 43 



portant sections of the park, and to spray thoroughly the borders 

 of the principal roads and drives. In the previously mentioned 

 coniferous groves the deciduous trees were cut, and the remain- 

 ing trees thoroughly banded with sticky materials and duly ex- 

 amined. In the latter part of July the caterpillars became full 

 grown, and pupated in very large numbers on rocks, undergrowth 

 and tree trunks, over approximately 300 acres. As the weather 

 conditions at this time were favorable to the use of fire, this 

 badly infested area was burned over section by section, and in 

 this way millions of larvae and pupae were destroyed at a mini- 

 mum outlay of labor and money. That this measure was most 

 effective was shown by the small number of egg clusters found 

 at the time of the fall inspection ; and a notable reduction of the 

 caterpillars also took place in certain sections as the result of 

 an epidemic disease which destroyed them in enormous num- 

 bers. In this co-operative work a great deal of cutting and thin- 

 ning has been done in the most important colonies, and protective 

 belts have been cut along the roadsides where the greatest dan- 

 ger of spreading of the moths existed. Much work has also 

 been done in treating egg clusters in the various colonies 

 throughout the entire woods. 



There are in reality two separate problems involved in con- 

 trolling the moths in this city, and in the residential sections such 

 progress has been made that an ordinary amount of burlapping 

 and spraying will not only hold the moth in check, but greatly 

 reduce its numbers. The woodland question is a problem by 

 itself, and here large expenditures, as indicated in previous re- 

 ports, must be made if the trees are to be preserved. Thinning 

 operations should be prosecuted over the entire park, and a re- 

 markably large amount of spraying will be required to bring 

 the moths under control. If this work can be well done at the 

 proper time, much progress should be made here during 1908. 



LYNNFIELD. 



HENRY LAW, Local Superintendent. 



In the month of January the clearing of trees on neglected 

 private estates was carried on, and cutting, cementing and tin- 

 ning operations were in progress during the remaining winter 



