Il6 ACRfCULTURE OF MAINE. 



REPORT OF THE SPECIAL FIELD AGENT IN 

 CHARGE OF GYPSY MOTH WORK. 



Hon. John A, Roberts, Commissioner of Agriculture. 



Sir: — I have the honor to herewith submit my annual report 

 as special field agent in charge of the gypsy moth work. 



The general work of this department this year may be classi- 

 fied under two heads, — the parasite laboratory department and 

 the field department, the former employing about ten men and 

 the latter about fifty men. Owing to the fact that there has 

 been a great diminution in the numbers of the two pests this 

 past winter, 191 3-14, the work of both departments has been 

 carried on with particular earnestness and effort. The reduced 

 number of the pests has made this season a very opportune 

 one to further deplete the armies of our enemies, the leaf eating 

 insects. All that this department can ask of the people at the 

 present time is that they pay particular attention to the spraying 

 of their trees the coming spring. This is the most effective 

 method they can employ, and at the present time, with the moth 

 situation so well in hand, spraying would accomplish such a 

 further reduction in the pests that we could look forward to an 

 almost complete control of both the gypsy and brown-tail moths 

 in a few years. 



From all over the state reports have come to this office stating 

 that the flight of brown-tail moths this year is anywhere from 

 one-fourth to one-half of the flight of last year. In Auburn, 

 Lewiston, Brunswick, Augusta, Portland, Biddeford and Saco 

 the flight was hardly noticeable compared with that of last year ; 

 while in the northern extremities of the infested territory where 

 the brown-tail moth foreboded much harm for this season, it 

 was difficult to find a brown-tail moth in flight. 



Now as to the work of this department during the year. In 

 the parasite laboratory we have had a very successful season. 

 Greatly encouraged by the results of last year's work in this 

 department, we have bred and liberated large numbers of para- 

 sites throughout the state. We have accomplished more than 



