14 GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. [Jan. 



provement and anti-moth societies were organized into the 

 Massachusetts Association for the Suppression of the Gypsy 

 and Brown-tail Moths, under the presidency of the Hon. 

 George R. Jones of Melrose, recently president of the 

 Massachusetts Senate. A strong effort was made to har- 

 monize conflicting ideas as to how best to proceed against 

 the moth pest; and the efforts of the association, with the 

 co-operation of the State Board of Agriculture, the Massa- 

 chusetts Forestry Association and various other interested 

 organizations and of individuals, finally resulted in the pres- 

 entation of a bill to the Legislature to provide for the sup- 

 pression of the gypsy and brown-tail moths. This bill, with 

 various amendments, is the act under which the present 

 work is carried on. It was signed by His Excellency 

 Governor W. L. Douglas on May 8, 1905. 



SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF THE ACT. 



The underlying purpose of the present act (chapter 381, 

 Acts of 1905) in relation to the gypsy and brown-tail moths 

 is to secure the co-operation of the individual, the city or town 

 and the State, each bearing a share of the responsibility for 

 the work and each sharing in its expense. (1) The function 

 of the State organization is first to secure systematic work in 

 each city and town ; to assist in the general campaign of edu- 

 cational work against the moths ; and, by means of trained 

 employees, to make a thorough examination of the infested 

 district and to help train the local organizations to the maxi- 

 mum degree of efficiency. (2) The local organization of 

 each municipality is charged with the enforcement of the law 

 on private estates and with the care of the public trees. (3) 

 The individual, within certain limits of expense, is required 

 to destroy the moths on his property, under certain penalties 

 for neglect. This general plan of work is a most admirable 

 one, but for its success requires the intelligent and hearty 

 co-operation by all parties interested. A brief summary of 

 the essential features of the act may well be given at this 

 point : - 



