116 GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. [Jan. 



ties in charge are now at work destroying the egg clusters 

 and nests of the moths, while equally good work is under 

 way at the United States arsenal at Watertown. In short, 

 all State and national boards, whose attention has been 

 called to the matter, have shown a most helpful desire to do 

 their share in suppressing these pests on the property under 

 their care. 



IMPORTING NATURAL ENEMIES. 



The Legislature of 1905 provided for the expenditure of 

 $10,000 a year for three years for the investigation and im- 

 portation of parasites and other natural enemies of the moths. 

 It is a well-established fact that in Europe, where the gypsy 

 and brown-tail moths are natives, outbreaks of these insects 

 are checked in a few years by their natural enemies. While 

 it is perfectly true that at intervals these pests show them- 

 selves as terrific plagues, yet in a short time the "balance 

 of nature," as scientists call it, asserts itself, and they sub- 

 side as a result of the attacks of the natural enemies. For 

 many years it has seemed most desirable to investigate the 

 enemies of the two moths in Europe, and to import those 

 which promise to be of the greatest assistance in combating 

 the pests. The broad view taken of this problem by the 

 Legislature, as shown by the legislation above mentioned, 

 has made possible a thoroughgoing effort along these lines. 



Following his appointment, the present superintendent, 

 w 7 ith the approval of His Excellency the Governor, went to 

 Washington, and by arrangement with the Honorable Sec- 

 retary of Agriculture, Mr. James Wilson, w r as enabled to 

 secure the co-operation and services of Dr. L. O. Howard, 

 chief of the Bureau of Entomology of the United States 

 Department of Agriculture. At the instance of the Hon. 

 Ernest C. Roberts of the seventh congressional district, the 

 last Congress had already made a small appropriation for 

 the purpose of investigating parasites of the moths. With 

 the larger sum made available by the Massachusetts Legis- 

 lature, it was possible to lay out comprehensive plans for 

 the importation of desirable parasites. 



Dr. Howard went abroad in the interests of this work 

 early last summer, and succeeded in organizing a chain of 



