1907.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT- -No. 73. 57 



condition there will be no serious difficulty in clearing Winthrop 

 from the gypsy moth, aside from the possible danger of continued 

 reinfestation by means of traffic from the badly infested dis- 

 tricts of Revere and Maiden. In attempting to carry out the 

 provisions of the law on private estates, early in the year, many 

 citizens brushed or scraped the egg clusters of the gypsy moth 

 to the ground, with the belief that the ordinary winter weather 

 would destroy the vitality of the same. The fallacy of this 

 belief was well demonstrated during the summer months, when 

 trees burlapped in such districts showed from 10 to 300 cater- 

 pillars apiece at each turning during the height of the caterpillar 

 season. It is also regrettable that at Winthrop a limited amount 

 of creosote deficient in egg-killing properties was used. These 

 criticisms are of a minor nature, and the town as a whole is in 

 a greatly improved condition, as compared with that of 1905. 



WOBURN. 

 JAMES MOLOY, Local Superintendent. 



In last year's report it seemed necessary to criticise severely 

 both the quality of work and the lack of work done in this city. 

 During the last season the necessary operations against the moths, 

 while often handicapped at critical stages from lack of funds, 

 have been carried on effectively and have been well administered. 

 At all times the interests of this work have had the hearty sup- 

 port of His Honor the mayor, and the instructions given by 

 this office have been promptly carried out. The lack of efficient 

 work in the early months of the year was particularly emphasized 

 by the condition of the badly infested sections during June and 

 July. Some spraying was done, with good results, but this work 

 only covered a small section of the badly infested district. We 

 have been greatly assisted in this town by the work performed 

 by Mr. D. M. Rogers, acting under the direction of Dr. L. O. 

 Howard of the United States Department of Agriculture. 



While the city still remains badly infested with the gypsy 

 moth, we feel that a net gain has been made in the residential 

 sections, and that, if the present efficient work can be thoroughly 

 carried out and receive proper financial support, a much better 

 showing will be made in 1907. 



