i:jn (iVI'SV AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. [Jan. 



v.. iv presented at a hearing before the House committee on 

 aurk-ulture, Washington, D. C., on Feb. 13, 1906, by Prof. 

 ( '. II. Fernald, Gen. F. H. Appleton, W. H. Bowker, Esq., and 

 State Superintendent Kirkland. Also present and taking an 

 a. -live part in the hearing, which was conducted by Mr. Rob- 

 erts, were the Hon. Frederick H. Gillett, Hon. Butler Ames, 

 Eon. S. W. McCall, Hon. John W. Weeks, Hon. W. S. Greene, 

 all of Massachusetts, and Director H. J. Wheeler, Rhode Island 

 Kxperimeiit Siation, and Prof. E. F. Hitchings, State Ento- 

 mologist of Maine. The damage caused by the moth pests 

 was fully pointed out, and an account given of the work against 

 the insects as conducted in Massachusetts and Maine. The 

 rapidly increasing spread of the gypsy moth was described, 

 and the claim made that, as Massachusetts had spent so liber- 

 ally of her funds in protecting not only herself but the entire 

 country from the inroads of the insect, it would be but a simple 

 act of justice for the national government to render its share 

 of financial assistance in controlling the pest. The danger 

 from the moth had now become an interstate affair, and, unless 

 >y-tematic work could be done in controlling the insect wherever 

 it occurred, the success of the work in any particular State 

 miidit be imperilled by the neglect of neighboring States. It 

 was argued also that it was an entirely proper function of the 

 national government to aid at least in keeping the highways, 

 railroads and car lines free from the pest, thereby preventing 

 it- farther spread. If this important part of the work should 

 be done by the national government, the infested States would 

 do their part in suppresHiii;- the insect in woodlands and resi- 

 dential districts. 



Largely a- a result of the etl'oris of the Senators and Rep- 



resentatives of this State, an appropriation of $M',f>0() was 

 |ia-~ed by ( 'ongress, to be u>ed in preventing the spread of the 

 gypsy and ln-own-tail moths in New Kniihind. 



Tin- national work was promptly organi/cd by Dr. L. ( ). 

 Howard. (liief of the I'nited States P.mvau of Entomology. 

 The Slat.- superintendent released, to take charge of the work, 

 lii- assistant, Mr. Dexter M. Rogers, who liegan and has pros- 

 ecnted the |i,.]d operations with great vigor and ellicieiiey. 

 It i- luit jii<t to say at this time that, among those most fa- 



