1907.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT Xo. 73. 115 



far as the residential district goes, it seems in better shape than last 

 .year. 



As to the woodlands, defoliation occurred in the Maher woods on 

 Trapelo Road, but thinning out was done there, and the tract is now 

 in good condition. The owner himself thinned out the place in part, 

 and the rest of the necessary work was done by the city. The wooded 

 .section comprising the woods of the Rindge farm, Flagg estate and 

 adjoining farms is badly infested, and will require strenuous efforts on 

 the part of the owners to save their trees. The region immediately 

 north of Hardy's Pond is rather badly infested. The farming region 

 in the northeasterly part of the city is generally infested. 



I think there has been, on the whole, compliance with the law by 

 citizens. We shall have to do more work against the gypsy moth next 

 year than this. 



AUG. i, 1906. 



OBSTACLES TO THE WORK. 



It is not surprising that in any operations involving to a 

 certain extent - - as does this work - - the exercise of the police 

 powers, there should develop a certain amount of friction, harsh 

 criticism or open opposition. There have been many minor 

 complaints 011 the part of property owners concerning the spe- 

 cial assessment levied upon them by cities and towns for failure 

 to comply with the law. In the case of certain municipalities 

 there has developed considerable opposition to providing suffi- 

 cient funds for the prosecution of the work, and delay or re- 

 fusal to place competent men in charge of the same. There 

 lias also been in some cases unwise expenditure for inefficient 

 labor, or for purchase of tools and supplies at excessive prices. 

 In the matter of unwise or improper expenditures the superin- 

 tendent has declined to approve the pay rolls or schedules in 

 which they occurred, but this is only a minor trouble, relatively 

 speaking. The two great obstacles to the success of the present 

 State work are the failure of towns and cities to provide the 

 necessary funds, and the appointment of inefficient local su- 

 perintendents. If it were possible to draw a cordon around 

 those municipalities which seem indifferent to the increase of 

 the moth pest, and leave them to their own destruction, public 

 sentiment in favor of liberal appropriations for moth work in 

 such communities would soon assert itself. But unfortunately 

 the moths do not recognize town bounds; and where a city or 

 to\vn is allowed to remain badly infested, the insects soon 



