256 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



most expensive method of any, but absolutely necessary in some 

 instances. 



Plate XVII shows the mark used to designate a woodland 

 colony. The tree is at the entrance of the Thaxter woods, the 

 arrow pointing toward the woodland colony and the figure 7 

 under this mark indicates the year in which it was discovered. 



Plate XVIII shows one of the government crews which 

 scouted over the territory above referred to. Plate XIX shows 

 the same crew at work in the Thaxter lot. 



We wish to express our appreciation for the very cordial 

 reception that has been extended to our department, to the field 

 agent and to the several men in the field force, and for the kind 

 treatment secured at the hands of the property owners and 

 others residing in the infested district. The work could not 

 have progressed so satisfactorily unless this had been done. On 

 the Thaxter estate, where the woodland colony was first dis- 

 covered, every courtesy was extended. Mr. John Thaxter ren- 

 dered all the assistance in his power, even going so far as to hire 

 men to aid in the cleaning of his wood lot, and was of great 

 material aid in the progress of the work. The same may be 

 said of the others whose adjacent property was badly infested. 

 The property was practically turned over to the department to 

 be treated in the best manner possible. As a result the owners 

 are perfectly satisfied with the work done. (See letter of Mr. 

 Thaxter. ) 



If this preparatory work had been neglected it would take 

 the total appropriation to handle this one woodland colony dur- 

 ing the coming summer. 



Men* have been employed in the different towns where the 

 work had been conducted, and they will be continued in the work 

 as they take a deep interest and are anxious to have it thor- 

 oughly done. 



VOICES FROM OUTSIDE. 



Summer visitors and others who come to us from infested 

 districts in Massachusetts and New Hampshire have caused no 

 little uneasiness by their very positive assertions that we 

 were badly infested, in certain sections of the State, with the 

 gipsy moth, these sections being outside of the limits of both the 

 gipsy and brown-tail infestations. A number of such reports 

 came to the office during the season ; one where a certain man 



