REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. 9 



is SO easily and so cheaply destroyed. We have no sympathy 

 for one who sits idly by and allows tent and forest caterpillars 

 to destroy the fruit of his labor. There should be a law whereby 

 such men could be compelled to clean up their trees, or the trees 

 should be cut down and burned. 



ARMY WORM. 



The army worm made its appearance in late summer, or early 

 autumn, in some sections of the state, especially in York and 

 Sagadahoc counties. Quite a number of fields of grain were 

 badly damaged and in some cases were nearly destroyed. 



It is feared that this insect may appear in large numbers and 

 over more extended territorv- next season. 



GRASSHOPPERS. 



In two sections of the state, Fryeburg and Lewiston, within 

 limited areas, there appeared in the late summer a great number 

 of grasshoppers. Attempts were made in various ways to 

 destroy them, but without great success, owing partly to a lack 

 of interest among some of the land owners. Just what is the 

 best method of handling this nuisance has not yet been deter- 

 mined in this state. 



POWDERY SCAB. 



Early in the year powdery scab on potatoes was discovered 

 in Aroostook county. It had been found previously in Canada 

 and had existed for many years in nearly all European countries. 

 Partly on account of this disease, an embargo had been placed 

 on potatoes from Canada and all European countries, by the 

 Federal Horticultural Board at Washington. Owing to this 

 fact, Aroostook growers and dealers were almost thrown into 

 a panic, facing an embargo. As the result of a conference at 

 Houlton, the Governor and Council were asked to take action, 

 which they did by sending a committee to Washington to appear 

 before the Board and ask the withholding of an embargo for 

 the winter and spring of 1914, and the allowing of a system of 

 inspection to be organized and put into effect, whereby all pota- 

 toes having the disease or exposed to it would be kept out of 

 interstate commerce. This committee consisted of the Commis- 



