26o AGRICUWURE OF MAINS. 



men at work, banded ten times as many trees, and have cut the brush 

 over nearly twice as much ground as is actually infested. This winter a 

 careful examination has been made by the men, and something over one 

 hundred egg-masses have been found and destroyed. It seems hardly 

 possible that many could have escaped. I am sending you a copy of 

 the law passed by the last legislature, which gave an appropriation of 

 one thousand dollars and as much more as might be needed up to ten 

 thousand dollars, for the two years. I have already drawn twenty-five 

 hundred dollars in addition to the one thousand mentioned in the bill, 

 and this is nearly expended. 



A few days ago, however, we learned that the insect had been found 

 at Springfield, Mass., and as this is only a few miles from our northern 

 boundary, I fear that we may find it in that vicinity. In the course of 

 two weeks or so I expect to send some of our scouts to examine the 

 region between Hartford and the Massachusetts line along the river to 

 see if it can be found there. I am afraid it may appear at any time in 

 some other portion of the state, but I feel fairly confident that we can 

 exterminate the colony at Stonington. 



Very truly yours, 



W. E. BRITTON, 



State Entomologist. 



Kittery Point, Maine. 

 Prof. E. F. Hitchings, 



Dear Sir : — As a desire for my opinion has been expressed regarding 

 the work done up to the present time in preparing to fight the gipsy 

 moth, as it affects my woodland, etc., I take pleasure in stating that it 

 has been eminently satisfactory to me. In the woodland the ground has 

 been thoroughly cleared of dead wood and underbrush, the trees have 

 been thinned, trimmed and entirely cleared of dead limbs, so that 1 

 have now only young and vigorous growth, and the land has the aspect 

 of a park. 



In the orchards the work has been equally thorough. The trees have 

 been well trimmed and scraped, the scars made by trimming have been 

 painted, and the holes wherever found have been covered with tin. The 

 work in both cases has been done with no more expense to me than what 

 of my own accord I chose to assume, and that has been so little com- 

 pared with the amount expended on my property by the State and 

 Federal Government, as to be hardly worth mentioning. 



In closing I will say, that with the work of preparation done on so 

 large a scale and in such a thorough manner, it seems to me that the 

 work of combatting the pests next season must be reduced to a minimurru 



Thanking you ariti all those who have had charge of the work, 



I remain yours truly, 



JOHN THAXTER. 



