28 GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. [Jan. 



ticularly helpful. Finally, the superintendent is glad to 

 acknowledge his obligation to field agents F. A. Bates, J. 

 W. En wright, C. W. Minott and L. H. Worthley, in charge 

 of the four divisions, men who have brought to this work 

 a thorough training and well-ripened judgment, and who 

 have been at all times closely in touch with the field opera- 

 tions. The superintendent's thanks are also due to the 

 local superintendents of the various cities and towns, and 

 to the inspectors employed by the central office, for hearty 

 co-operation and faithful service. 



POLICY or WORK AGAINST EACH SPECIES OF MOTH. 



As soon as the size of the gypsy moth infested area was 

 determined, it became necessary to decide on the course to 

 follow with reference to each species of moth. The gypsy 

 moth had been found from the New Hampshire line to Buz- 

 zard's Bay and westward to Maryborough. Outside the 

 State it was known to exist at Providence, R. I., and to be 

 scattered along the New Hampshire seacoast to Portsmouth. 

 The brown-tail moth had been reported at Aniherst, and was 

 known to occur at Fitchbun>- and Worcester. It extended 



cr 



south to Cape Cod and north throughout southern New Hamp- 

 shire and along the Maine coast to Eastport, thus having a 

 much wider distribution than the gypsy moth. Since the 

 funds available were wholly insufficient to cope with both 

 pests, it was decided to adopt the policy of suppressing the 

 gypsy moth so far as possible wherever it occurred, and to 

 confine work against the brown-tail moth to clearing street 

 trees and trees around or near residences. The following 

 reasons governed the decision : 



1. The gypsy moth spreads slowly, almost entirely by the 

 agencies of traffic. The female moth does not fly. 



The brown-tail moth is a strong flyer and is borne by the 

 wind for many miles. 



2. The gypsy moth is a serious pest of all trees, both 

 deciduous and coniferous, and attacks all shrubs and some- 

 times even crops. 



The brown-tail moth attacks deciduous trees, and is mainly 

 a pest of fruit trees and oaks. 



