

1908.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 73. 179 



expensive than the excess cost of the supplies needed. To check 

 up the itemized purchases of supplies used in the field has 

 formed an important part of the work of the central office, and 

 the controversies which have arisen from time to time where 

 the superintendent has felt obliged to disallow certain items 

 have been most unpleasant as well as undesirable. 



Under the present system, while we have been able to make 

 a notable saving through securing competitive bids, it is appar- 

 ent that further economies might be made if all the supplies 

 needed for the year's work were bought in bulk quantities. 

 Burlap and insecticides, for example, can be bought cheaper 

 in carload lots than when bulk shipments are broken by the 

 dealer and shipped in bale or keg lots. Hose in lots of 10,000 

 feet can be bought closer than in 100-foot lots; a larger dis- 

 count is given on axes by the gross than by the dozen or half 

 dozen ; and so on throughout the list. It is an open question in 

 the mind of the superintendent if it would not be in the interest 

 of economy for the department to establish a central warehouse 

 at some convenient shipping point near Boston, buy the goods 

 in large quantities, ship them on orders from the local super- 

 intendents, and charge same against the town or city ordering 

 them; the supplies so furnished to stand to the credit of the 

 State in computing reimbursements due. The superintendent is 

 of the opinion that this plan is entirely feasible, and that, while 

 adding somewhat to the duties of the central management, it 

 would result in obtaining a better and more uniform class of 

 supplies, and at more advantageous rates, than now prevail. 

 In the work against the moths, labor is the all-important item, 

 and the amount saved in buying materials would then be avail- 

 able for increasing the number of employees in the field ; while 

 the benefit to the local organizations in being able to procure 

 at short notice from a single source any supplies required needs 

 but to be mentioned to be appreciated. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



As pointed out elsewhere, the largest problem in dealing with 

 the gypsy moth now is found in the widespread serious infesta- 

 tion of the woodland. The pest is well under control in resi- 

 dential districts ; it must be kept in this condition. To prevent 



