iso (JVPSV AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. [Jan. 



reinfe-tations of tin- sections already cleared, the woodlands 

 musi have most vigorous treatment. To continue the expensive 

 operations now under way for the treatment of woodlands and 

 the protection of the thickly settled districts, more funds than 

 those provided by the appropriation made in 1907 for the pur- 

 pose of continuing the 1908 work ($150,000) will be needed. 

 In following up the plan made last May, when the full appro- 

 priation for 1907 became available, a considerable sum has 

 been held in reserve for use in clearing woodlands the present 

 winter. The large force of men now at work clearing private 

 estates and street trees will be transferred to woodland work 

 whenever snow interferes with the efficiency of the work now in 

 progress. In Waltham, Lexington, Woburn, Burlington, Wake- 

 field, Reading, Lynnfield, Saugus, Peabody, Beverly, Manches- 

 ter and elsewhere there are most serious woodland problems to 

 be dealt with. Other towns, like Georgetown, Concord, Lincoln 

 and Brookline, to mention but a few, - - have woodland in- 

 festations that should be thoroughly treated without delay, to 

 prevent their increase. 



The work of importing parasites, while requiring much time 

 and patient effort, is now well organized, and important results 

 have been obtained in establishing in Massachusetts certain nat- 

 ural enemies which are known to be important checks on both 

 -pities of moths in their natural regions in Europe. How long 

 it may be before these parasites show effective results in the 

 field, no one can accurately predict; it may require five or ten 

 years, it may not require two years. The work is a very large 

 experiment, with very great prospects of success. In view of 

 the relatively small expense required to continue the operations 

 now inider way,- -mall, indeed, compared with the great cost 

 of field work.- -suitable provision should be made for further 

 importing and studying the parasites of the gypsy and brown- 

 tail moths. 



Owinu to the peculiarly ha/ardous nature of the Held work 

 airaiii-t the moths, involving, as it does, much climbing of tall 

 trees, the superintendent early advised the cities and townfl to 

 in-nre their employe,.. ni-iin-t accidents, and further to insure 

 against accident- to the persons and properly of (he public 

 through falling of apparatus, branches of trees, and the dropping 



