72 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.. 



tricts. I had heard many things about the ravages of this 

 insect, but I found a great many things far worse than any 

 thing I had heard. These insects constitute one of the most 

 serious pests that we have had to deal with. They even get 

 into the houses and into the pantries. Conditions are so bad. 

 and the pest is so numerous it is absolutely impossible to keep 

 them out of the houses even where the greatest precautions 

 are taken. It is one of the worst pests with which the Ameri- 

 can people have had to deal in the history of the coimtry. 



The female is unable to fly, and therein rests our hope of 

 controlling them. Our federation in Rhode Island took up the 

 matter, and we were of the opinion that the Government should 

 come to our aid at the present time. The trouble has developed 

 to such an extent that, in my opinion, it is beyond the ability 

 of the states to successfully cope with it. We should have the 

 aid of the national government. The insects have already 

 spread into New Hampshire, and we have a local colony in 

 Providence. It is reported that it is at the borders of Maine 

 if not already in the State of Maine. Our federation has sent 

 a circular to all of the New England State Boards of Agri- 

 culture, and I think they will be a unit in asking the govern- 

 ment to appropriate money at this time to help control this 

 pest. I wrote your Secretary about this, and found him very 

 favorably inclined to bring this matter before you. I only 

 wish to say further that whether you appreciate at present the 

 necessity for your action or not you will in a very short time. 

 I believe that the wisest course for Connecticut to pursue is 

 to urge upon all of your Congressmen the necessity for using 

 every efifort to have this pest controlled. If it is not controlled, 

 it is only a question of a very short time before they will 

 spread into Connecticut and bring about here the havoc and 

 ruin they have wrought in Massachusetts and other localities. 

 It is a matter which must not be delayed. Every dollar which 

 is spent now is better than ten later. 



