214 ANNUAL REPORTS OP DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Vermont. 4 in Massachusetts, and 3 in Connecticut the insect has 

 apparently been exterminated. There is therefore a net increase of 

 only 4 infested towns, which is a much smaller number than has been 

 found in previous years. All of the infestations discovered in these 

 towns have been carefully treated, and a large amount of creosoting, 

 banding, and spraying has been done in towns immediately inside the 

 border. Approximately 35 tons of arsenate of lead were used this 

 year, and spraying was done with 13 high-power sprayers. The pur- 

 chase during the year of a motor-truck sprayer made it possible to 

 treat a much larger area more economically than heretofore. This 

 machine will do the work of four horse-drawn machines. 



There has been a very noticeable decrease in the number of insects 

 in the towns along the border which were treated last year. Con- 

 siderable work has been done throughout several tiers of towns inside 

 the border in order to prevent continued spread throughout adjoining 

 areas, and here the results have been very satisfactory. The small 

 colonies formerly existing in Great Barrington and Lenox have been 

 thoroughly scouted, but no moths have been found. 



Progress of the work in Ohio. — The site of the former colony at 

 Bratenahl, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, has been thoroughly exam- 

 ined, and as a precautionary measure the trees were sprayed again 

 during the summer by the State nursery inspector. No infestation 

 has been found on this site during the year, and it is believed that 

 the insect has been exterminated. 



Progress of the work in New Jersey. — The site of the former 

 colony at Rutherford, N. J., has received careful attention, and no 

 indication of the presence of the moth has been found. 



Progress of the work in New York. — During the year the entire 

 park system of Rochester has been examined, as it was feared that 

 the moths might have gained a foothold from nursery stock which 

 has been shipped in during the last few years, but no evidence of the 

 insect was found. In the colony which was located at North Castle 

 a large amount of work has been done, but only eight egg clusters 

 have been found, all of these being outside the area which was sprayed 

 last year. Work is being continued at this point in cooperation with 

 the department of agriculture of the State of New York, and the 

 entire area and a surrounding strip have been sprayed this year. 

 Work will be carried on, and it is believed that the insect can be 

 stamped out. 



Brown-tail moth situation. — The severity of the brown-tail 

 moth infestation has steadily decreased, and the insect is by no 

 means as abundant as it was the previous year. The various light- 

 houses along the coast of Connecticut and Long Island have been 

 examined, but no migrating moths have been found. Fewer moths 

 have been found on trains coming from infested regions during the 

 season when the moths are flying than in any year since this work 

 has been begun. This indicates quite clearly that the moth is not 

 spreading into new territory, and the conditions in the territory 

 known to be infested showed marked improvement and in many of 

 the towns where this insect once caused much damage and annoyance 

 it has done little injury during the year. 



