8 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



SEED AND PLANT IMPROVEMENT. 



The work of seed and plant improvement has been in the 

 hands of the Assistant Dairy Instructor, Mr. C. R. Leland, and 

 has been carried along with diligence and enthusiasm. A sys- 

 tem of state certification of seeds, including potatoes, has been 

 worked out and put into effective operation during the year. 

 About 45,000 bushels of potatoes have been produced under 

 inspection of the department, as well as a few acres of corn and 

 small grains. Reference is had to the report of Mr. Leland. 



GYPSY MOTH. 



The Gypsy moth has spread over the whole southern section 

 of the state, being found in nearly 200 towns. The work of 

 destroying this very dangerous insect has been in the hands of 

 Major E. E. Philbrook, who has had the largest experience in 

 such work of any man in the state. Through the planting of 

 parasites and fungous diseases, as well as by the field work of 

 a large crew of skilled men, the numbers have been kept down 

 and in some sections largely decreased. Reference is made to 

 Major Philbrook's report in this volume. 



BROWN-TAIL MOTH. 



The crop of brown-tails in the fall of 191 3 was the largest 

 ever known in the state. Trees were loaded with their nests, 

 and the outlook for handling them was exceedingly discourag- 

 ing. But the situation was wholly changed at the opening of 

 spring. Parasites, disease and unusually cold weather, working 

 together, wrought great destruction among them. While some 

 few sections have suffered seriously from their depredations this 

 year, most parts of the state have been nearly free from them. 



TENT CATERPILLARS. 



Tent caterpillars* have been very plenty in southern and west- 

 ern parts of the state, and have done much damage to fruit trees, 

 denuding them entirely of their foliage. In many cases trees 

 have been stripped of their leaves for two years in succession 

 and the result is trees wholly or partially dead. It seems unac- 

 countable why one who has paid good money for trees, planted 

 them and cared for theni for years until they have reached the 

 age of bearing, should allow them to be killed by an enemy that 



