32 (iVPSV AND BKOWN-TAIL MOTHS. [Jan. 



CONDITION OF INFESTED DISTRICT. 



So successful have been the efforts made during the past two 

 and one-half years to bring the gypsy and brown-tail moths 

 H IK lei- control, that the residential district and roadside prob- 

 lems are now in a sense of minor importance. It has taken 

 much of hard, persistent, intensive work to bring about this 

 state of affairs, but it has been accomplished. No longer are 

 travellers on our roads and streets annoyed by swarms of cater- 

 pillars spinning down from overhanging shade trees ; no longer 

 are the inhabitants of the congested districts poisoned and made 

 sick by swarming brown-tail moth caterpillars, whose irritating 

 hairs produce indescribable suffering; no longer are the fruit 

 and shade trees in village, house lot or orchard defoliated and 

 left bare to the scorching rays of the sun. True, there have 

 been many isolated cases of such annoyance and injury in a 



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large number of towns during the year; but, viewing the con- 

 dition of the whole district in midsummer, 1907, in comparison 

 wiili the conditions prevailing in 1905, the gain made in the 

 control of the moth is as remarkable as it is gratifying. The 

 superintendent feels that this statement can be made in all pro- 

 priety, since the actual field work has been done by local organ- 

 i/ations, intelligently directed and properly supported by mu- 

 nicipal authorities and the co-operative efforts of thousands of 

 good citizens. 



How general is the confidence in the efficacy of the present 

 tern of work is well shown by the increasing tendency to rely 

 wholly on the local organizations to clear the trees on private 

 estates, --a condition of affairs exceedingly gratifying from 

 one point of view, but from another not wholly commendable, 

 since the local forces cannot have too much assistance 1'roin 

 property owners. 



Tin- problem of controlling the gypsy moth has now resolved 



itself into tin- great question of dealing with the inl'e.-ted \\ 1- 



l:inl.-. Of minor rank, but still highly important, is the con- 

 tinued control of the moth where the mastery lias heen gained. 

 Mini flic extermination of the incipient colonies in the outlying 

 -par-ely inf.'-ted towns. 



In ili.- "central district," as ii may well be called, including 



