512 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Togus, Me., may be considered as exterminated, no evidence of the 

 moth h:ivin,2: been found for nearly two years. 



During the past winter considerable woodland scoutin^^ was car- 

 ried on, and largo gipsy moth colonies were located in a few places, 

 the worst one being on the eastern slope of Agamenticus Mountain, 

 in the towns of York and AVells. Several thousand egg clusters were 

 treated with creosote in this colony, and the ground was cleared up 

 over several acres. A smaller colony was located near the summit of 

 the mountain. Several woodland colonies were located in the Ber- 

 wicks, but Maine conditions in general are not bad. 



The brown-tail moth seems possibly to have reached the northern 

 limit at which it can thrive in Maine, which is about the forty-fifth 

 parallel of latitude. Although the moth has been known to be present 

 up to this line for two or three years, it does not appear to increase 

 materially. This statement must not be taken as a prediction that 

 the brown-tail moth Avill not extend north of this region, but simply 

 as a statement of observed fact down to the present time. 



WORK IN EHODE ISLAND. 



The area infested by the gipsy moth in Rhode Island has decreased 

 slightly during the past year, and the moth is less abundant than at 

 any time since its control was undertaken. The Bureau work in this 

 State has been in cooperation with the state officials. The state 

 appropriation is used until it is exhausted, and then such of the force 

 as is necessary to keep up the work is carried on the federal pay roll 

 through the season, "the creosoting of e^g clusters and the burlap- 

 ping of trees has been the principal work. A little brush has been 

 cut and a great many trees have been cemented or patched with tin 

 to le-ssen the number of hiding places for the caterpillars and egg 

 clusters. 



The brown-tail moth has been more in evidence in Rhode Island 

 during the past year than before, and now occurs in about one-fourth 

 of the State — the northeastern portion — although here it is not as 

 prevalent as in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. 



WORK IN CONNECTICUT. 



The gipsy moth colony at Stonington is nearing extermination. 

 Less than iOO caterpillars were taken there during the summer of 

 1900 by the state force. Earlj'^ in December some of the best scouts 

 employed by the Bureau were sent to this State to assist the state 

 authorities in the search for egg clusters, the combined efforts result- 

 ing in the discovery of but one. "While this colony will need watching 

 for some time, it seems probable that another j^ear or two should 

 result in its complete erndicntion. 



In December, 1909, a bad colony of gipsy moths was discovered in 

 the town of Wallingford, about 12 miles north of New Haven. The 

 State immediately took steps to do the necessary work, and a little 

 later a force of Bureau scouts was sent down from Massachusetts to 

 examine the territory outside of the lines of the original colony. 

 Every tree in Wallingford was examined, except the woodland, and 

 no egg clusters were discovered except a few near the border of the 

 colon}', as at first outlined. The scouting operations were continued 



