1906. j THE GYPSY MOTH. 73 



Mr. Pl.vtts. What have they done to exterminate it? 

 What can they do? 



Professor Wheeler. The State Board of Agriculture in 

 Massachusetts expended some large sums of money, and they 

 were on the point of exterminating the pest, but it is reported 

 that the expenditure of the money got into politics, and the ap- 

 propriation some years ago was cut off. As a result, the thing 

 has become such a pest that the people can take no comfort in 

 their homes. They destroy most everything in the way of 

 vegetation. Even the evergreens are being destroyed, and 

 whole orchards are being destroyed. Fruit trees and valuable 

 shrubs. One gentleman that I know of has spent forty thou- 

 sand dollars this last year in trying to control them upon his 

 place, and is to spend seventy thousand dollars this year. 



There are three things to do. First, to destroy the eggs 

 close to the trunks of the trees. That is a work to be done 

 now. If the work is to be undertaken so as to do much good, 

 it ought to be undertaken now. Another thing, is to put a 

 burlap around the trees and allow it to hang down three or 

 four inches so that the caterpillars are unable to get up. Then 

 they can be caught and crushed. The important work needs 

 to be done before the leaves come out in the spring. An ap- 

 propriation should be made by Congress, and, if possible, on 

 the first day of January, or February, men should be at work. 

 We should not lose a moment's time. 



The President. You hear this resolution regarding the 

 gypsy moth. All in favor say " Aye." It is passed. . 



The address on the programme for this evening is " The 

 Story of Soils and Plants in Their Relation to Liming," by 

 Professor H. J. Wheeler, Director of the Rhode Island Ex- 

 periment station. The gentleman has just spoken to you about 

 the gypsy moth. I have the pleasure of introducing him to 

 you now. 



