REPORT OF FIELD AGENT, GYPSY MOTH WORK. lOI 



years has not been wholly barren of good results, I am con- 

 vinced now that to carry on our present methods with siiiall 

 appropriations is not feasible. It will require much larger ap- 

 propriations than any previous ones to come anywhere near 

 holding this pest in check. From my experience on this work, 

 I have come to the conclusion that instead of the State trying to 

 check the moth by mechanical methods, we should show the 

 property owner, by educational methods, how to do this. I 

 believe that the best service can be rendered to the citizens of 

 this State by teaching them how to best protect their shade 

 trees, orchards, and woodlands from the ravages of this insect- 

 The real Gipsy moth problem does not concern the orchanls, 

 nor the shade trees. This class of trees has been and still 

 can be protected by the State, if necessary, but the better 

 plan would be to show the owner how to protect them himself. 

 The real Gipsy moth problem is in the woodlands. Never, 

 since the work began in Maine has this insect been under control 

 in the woodlands. There have been a few instances where 

 certain woodland infestations have been checked temporarily, 

 but while this was being done, other woodlands were all the 

 time becoming more dangerously infested. I recommend that 

 no more work be done in woodlands along present or past meth- 

 ods. I believe, however, that by practicing methods of judi- 

 cious cutting out of certain kinds of trees along forestry lines, 

 most of the danger from the Gipsy moth can be eliminated. 

 The State should investigate this matter and see that property 

 owners are informed as to how these methods should be pur- 

 sued in order to safe-guard as far as possible the shade trees, 

 orchards and woodlands from the dangers of this destructive 

 pest. 



If we are ever to get any relief from this pest, it will be 

 afforded eventually by the parasites. Even if a large sum of 

 money were raised — large enough to check the increase of the 

 Gipsy moth in all infested woodland — it is a question whether 

 such a policy would be a good one, since by keeping the pest 

 reduced in numbers, we would at the same time be checking 

 the development of its parasites and perhaps postponing our 

 eventual relief. 



