1909.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 73. 13 



SYNOPSIS OF THE REPORT. 



1. In spite of the unusual climatic conditions favoring the 

 increase of the gypsy and brown-tail moths in 1908, the local 

 organizations as a rule have shown themselves able to keep the 

 insects under control except in the woodland districts, where 

 lack of funds do not permit extensive operations. 



2. The policy of cleaning the trees along the streets and high- 

 ways and in residential and farming sections has been continued, 

 with satisfactory results. 



3. A special effort has been made to protect the north shore 

 woodlands through a co-operative plan of work, the greater por- 

 tion of the funds for these operations being provided by the 

 interested citizens and municipalities. 



4. A satisfactory spirit of co-operation has been shown by 

 city and town officials as a whole, and by citizens of the in- 

 fested district. 



5. Greater progress has been made in the importation and 

 rearing of parasites of the gypsy and brown-tail moths during 

 1908 than in any single year heretofore. 



Recommendations are : - 



1. To continue the field work at its maximum efficiency, an 

 appropriation of $150,000, in addition to that already pro- 

 vided for the year 1909, should be made. 



2. To continue the work of importation of parasites and for 

 work on fungous and bacterial diseases an appropriation of $15,- 

 000, in addition to any unexpended balance, should be made. 



3. To provide for the uninterrupted continuation of the work 

 against the gypsy and brown-tail moths, that the work may 

 not suffer from legislative delays in the winter and spring, 

 when most effective work can be done, a suitable appropria- 

 tion should be made for a period of at least three years. 



FINANCIAL STATEMENT. 



As explained in previous reports, although the law requires 

 the superintendent to " separate, as far as practicable, the ex- 

 penditures on work against the gypsy moth from those on work 

 against the brown-tail moth," this is an impossible require- 



