160 GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. [Jan. 



individual citizen ; but it does depend upon the business- 

 like, sincere, hearty co-operation of all concerned in sup- 

 pressing the moths and preserving our trees. In short, the 

 moth pests can be suppressed if all work together with a 

 common purpose and for a common end. No city or town 

 can be allowed to slight this important work : no citizen 

 should be permitted to maintain a nuisance, to his neighbor's 

 annoyance or detriment. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



It is too early as yet to state with any degree of complete- 

 ness the possible amendments which may be required to the 

 act under which we are working ; but, to secure a greater 

 uniformity and efficiency of action throughout the infested 

 district, it is apparent to the superintendent that certain 

 minor changes at least are desirable. As yet the act has 

 not been tested sufficiently in all its details to develop any 

 insurmountable difficulties in its execution, with a single ex- 

 ception, viz., the omission of the word "caterpillars'' from 

 sections 4 and 6. 



The superintendent, however, presents for your consider- 

 ation the following proposed changes in the existing law, as 

 based upon the experience of the past six months : 



1. The State superintendent, as well as those locally in 

 charge of the work in cities and towns, should be given suffi- 

 cient authority to prevent the use of ineffective measures 

 against the moths, or of those which tend to distribute the 



o 



insects. Several irresponsible contractors have swept gypsy 

 moth egg clusters from the trees to the ground, or left 

 brown-tail moth webs lying on the ground, in spite of the 

 fact that it is well known that such eggs or webs will yield 

 a large percentage of caterpillars to reinfest the trees. 



2. The State and local authorities should be given power 

 to control as may be necessary the transportation of wood, 

 timber and any other objects infested by the moth pests. 

 At the present time any one may ship from the central dis- 

 trict a carload of infested wood to any point in Massachusetts 

 or other State, there to establish a new moth colony. The 

 authority to prevent such a disaster the superintendent 

 deems of the highest importance. 



