1909.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT --No. 73. 71 



placed in the hands of chief stewards of the vessels and carried in the 

 cold room to New York, where they were admitted without examina- 

 tion and sent direct to Boston. This method has resulted in a much 

 better average condition of the material received, and has facilitated 

 the rapidity with which the work is being accomplished. The courtesy 

 of the steamship officials is highly appreciated. 



The third innovation has been an attempt to secure Japanese para- 

 sites of the gypsy moth. It has been known for some years that the 

 true gypsy moth, or one of its varieties, or at least a most closely 

 related species, occurs in Japan, though not in great numbers, and 

 that it is apparently held in check by its parasites. Rev. H. Loomis, 

 an American living in Yokohama, has repeatedly written to the State 

 authorities of Massachusetts and to the United States Department of 

 Agriculture, conveying this information; and attempts have been made 

 by mail and otherwise to send these parasites to the United States, 

 but without success. Later information, received from one of the most 

 skilled economic entomologists of Japan, Mr. Nawa, indicated that 

 there exists in Japan an important egg parasite of the gypsy moth. 

 Remembering that the Massachusetts gypsy moth came originally from 

 Europe, it seemed altogether desirable to introduce first the European 

 parasites, and it seemed probable that these would by themselves re- 

 establish the balance of nature. Then, too, the importation of the 

 Japanese species seemed somewhat dangerous, on account of the chance 

 that the Japanese gypsy moth might prove even more voracious and 

 destructive than the European moth; but after mature consideration it 

 was thought best to leave no stone unturned, and to neglect no chances 

 in the search for effective parasites. The European service of col- 

 lectors and agents and advisors had been well organized and instructed 

 during three annual visits of the Chief of the Bureau to Europe; 

 and it was therefore decided to interrupt the European trip for the 

 present year, and to send an agent to Japan. Prof. Trevor Kincaid 

 of the University of Washington, at Seattle, was chosen on account 

 of his skill as a collector, evidenced in the remarkable results of the 

 Harriman expedition to Alaska, his comparative proximity to Japan, 

 and the fact that he is personally acquainted with many persons in 

 Japan. He sailed on March 2, and the results of the expedition have 

 more than justified the expense involved. A very large amount of 

 parasitic material has been received from him in good condition at 

 Boston, and very many parasites from Japan have been colonized in 

 the woodlands of New England. 



Still another decided innovation has been the carrying on of active 

 winter work with parasites, especially those secured from imported 

 nests of the brown-tail moth, which began to come in from Europe 

 in December. It was found quite possible to breed these parasites 

 in artificially heated rooms, feeding them upon hibernating native 

 brown-tail moth larvae brought in in their nests from out of doors, feed- 



