1906.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 73. 19 



PLAN OF WORK. 



It was apparent that the work must progress along two 

 lines : first, to obtain an accurate knowledge of the extent of 

 the infested area ; and second, to organize work against the 

 moth in the cities and towns where the caterpillar plague 

 was already in evidence. Until the bounds of the infested 

 district were known, and a general idea of the severity of the 

 infestation was obtained, no final apportionment of the State 

 appropriation could be made. On the other hand, the need 

 of a large amount of immediate work was obvious, particu- 

 larly in the badly infested central cities and towns. To carry 

 on these dual lines of effort the territory was roughly divided 

 into four divisions, each being placed in charge of a field 

 agent who had had large experience in work against the moth 

 as well as in handling men and in dealing with the public. 

 Under these agents were placed a certain number of trained 

 inspectors, whose work at first was principally that of ex- 

 amining outlying territory, while the agents devoted their 

 efforts toward organizing municipal operations in the central 

 region. When the scouting had been brous'ht to a close, the 



O O o 



operations were well under way in a large number of cities 

 and towns, and the inspectors were then detailed to follow 

 up this local work, to co-operate with the local superintend- 

 ents, and, when necessary, to instruct them in the most 

 efficient methods of combating the pests. 



In selecting employees it has been the policy of the super- 

 intendent to hire only men of experience and proved ability 

 in the work against the moth pests. It has seemed unwise 

 to employ untrained men in the execution of this law so long 

 as the services of experienced men could be obtained. This 

 has resulted in the disappointment of a great many applicants 

 for employment, but the superintendent has felt that only 

 by insisting on the highest grade of efficient service could 

 the insects be brought under control. 



MAPPING THE INFESTED TERRITORY. 



The problem of first importance was to determine the 

 extent of the infested territory. As is well known, the area 

 occupied by the gypsy moth in 1899 embraced 359 square 



