4- NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



ancc from one locality to another. The continued exercise of vigi- 

 lance by both state and national authorities may perhaps delay the 

 invasion of this State for a decade or more. The warning placard 

 illustrating both this species and the brown tail moth, has been 

 conspicuously posted in many post offices and other public places 

 located in portions of the State where the pest is most liable to 

 ?ppear. Additional copies are on hand and can be used to replace 

 those broken or lost and also for sending to other localities should 

 future developments warrant such procedure. 



A better idea of what gipsy moth infestation means may be 

 gained from the following notes made June 24, while examining 

 conditions in the infested territory. Starting from Boston we 

 passed through Cambridge and Brookline to Waltham, observing 

 in particular conditions in Waltham park. This latter comprises 

 over 100 acres of rocky land mostly covered with a dense growth 

 ol oaks some 20 to 40 feet high. No winter work such as creo- 

 soting egg masses on trees and clearing out underbrush was done, 

 though the whole was rather badly infested. The entire park was 

 sprayed with poison with one of the giant outfits described below, 

 though the application was made rather late. The results were 

 very gratifying, since practically no trees were seriously injured 

 by caterpillars, though the park is surrounded by badly infested 

 territory. The policy has been to safeguard such treated areas by 

 clearing a strip about 100 feet wide around the entire border. This 

 is done by cutting out and burning all underbrush and then apply- 

 ing tree Tanglefoot to the trunks of the remaining trees, so as to 

 prevent caterpillars from ascending the trees. The latter do not, 

 as a rule, pass this barrier, though at the time of our visit some 

 were entering the park and supplementary spraying was necessary 

 here and there in order to prevent further damage. Continuing 

 from Waltham we passed through Arlington, Winchester and 

 Stoneham to Melrose. Here and there along the entire route con- 

 siderable woodland areas were stripped or nearly defoliated by 

 gipsy moth caterpillars, and in one instance at least, the badly 

 aflfected area was fully a mile and a quarter in length. These 

 woodlands were all on hillsides and consisted mostly of oak rang- 

 ing from 30 to 50 feet or more in hight. These stony hills are 

 said to have very little agricultural value, being rated at $15 per 

 acre. The cost of adequately controlling a pest like the gipsy 

 moth in such situations is at once apparent. The general condi- 



