1908.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 73. 109 



ROCKLAND. 



FRANK A. SHAW, Local Superintendent. 



The town of Rockland in most of its residential section is 

 generally but not heavily infested with the gypsy moth. Work 

 against the moths was carried on in 1907 in a very thorough 

 manner by the local superintendent, who did a great deal in the 

 way of trimming, scraping and cementing in infested apple 

 orchards. At his urgent request many citizens cut their worth- 

 less trees, regardless of the question whether or not the trees 

 were infested. It follows that Rockland to-day, as far as the 

 orchard problem goes, is in better condition over most of its 

 area as concerns the gypsy moth than many towns in eastern 

 Massachusetts. The preliminary operations of the spring were 

 supplemented later by an extensive burlapping campaign. Over 

 7,000 yards of burlap were put on about 5,000 trees, which 

 were " diligently cared for throughout the summer by the local 

 gang. Since egg laying time over 2,000 nests have been treated. 



The fall scouting of the town has developed several rather 

 badly infested places in the town proper, in some of which spray- 

 ing will be required next spring. The woodland problem in 

 Rockland is not yet a serious one. In the rather extensively 

 wooded southern part of the town no moths have been found, al- 

 though 7 woodland infestations are known to exist elsewhere. 

 The most important are the 3 off Pond Street, near the Hanover 

 line, where about 60 egg clusters were found, many of them on 

 pines, and the one at Accord Pond, where 200 larvse were taken 

 last summer under the burlaps, and later 75 egg clusters were 

 destroyed. Some cutting will be required in both these places. 

 A burlapping campaign as extensive and energetic as that of 

 last summer will be needed in 1908, and this should bring about 

 a marked reduction in the numbers of the gypsy moth. 



Operations against the moths in Rockland have been aided 

 in a most public-spirited way by the selectmen, and much in- 

 terest in the work is evinced generally by the citizens. 



