1908.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT- -No. 73. 77 



intendent The brown-tail winter webs were carefully sought 

 and destroyed, with the result that to-day there is only a scat- 

 tering and light infestation in the town, mostly in the center 

 and the south villages. Operations were also pushed with vigor 

 against the gypsy moth. Careful cleaning work was done, trees 

 were scraped, trimmed and cemented, and many worthless ones 

 removed. The value of this preliminary work was fully real- 

 ized by the local superintendent, who spared no effort to get 

 the known infestations in condition for effective work during 

 the burlap season. All told, 1,600 trees were burlapped and 

 4,303 larvae and pupae were killed. 



The fall scouting of the town, while failing to reveal any 

 gypsy moths on more than one-half of the estates known to be 

 infested prior to June 1, 1907, nevertheless added 104 new 

 estates to the list, making a total of 141 infested estates. This 

 increase is to be accounted for largely by the fact that the shade 

 trees generally on private estates and the woodlands of the town 

 were never before inspected. While the situation in the resi- 

 dential sections of the town is now well in hand, the woodland 

 conditions present a serious problem. The fall scouting of the 

 town concluded in December last revealed 49 infestations in the 

 woods, and in these 832 egg clusters were destroyed. In 13 of 

 the woods colonies a great deal of cutting will be required, and 

 all will require close attention during the coming summer. Be- 

 cause of its location on the State road, a thoroughfare for auto- 

 mobiles and other vehicles, the woods colonv at the corner of 



tj 



Depot Street may be considered the most important in town. 

 Here the necessary thinning of trees and cutting of underbrush 

 has been done over six acres in a most satisfactory way. The 

 same summary method is at present being applied at other in- 

 fested points in the woods. The town is to be congratulated on 

 the good judgment shown and the remarkable results secured 

 by the very efficient local superintendent in his scouting for the 

 gypsy moth in the woodlands, and upon the energy with which 

 he has begun the task of suppressing the insect in the infesta- 

 tions found. 



The excellent public spirit of the selectmen and citizens of 

 Duxbury is evidenced by the business-like methods of carrying 

 on operations against the moths. At a special town meeting, 



