105 



boxes was fitted up witli fine brass wire-cloth ventilators 

 through which I observed great numbers of the destructive 

 "Gipsy moth"' (Portltctria dispar) caterpillars. This box was 

 not provided with a lock, so I had the door fastened with large 

 screw nails to prevent the over inquisitiveness of any one that 

 felt disposed to open it and thus release this terrible scourge in 

 our midst. The other box contained growing trees from which 

 to cut food for the caterpillars should they require it. Those 

 trees were also seriously infested with a species of "Saw-fly" 

 larvae that were rapidly defoliating the trees. I purchased 

 eighteen yards of mosquito bar, with which w^e wrapped the 

 trees and crate to prevent the escape of any insects that might 

 have developed on the voyage. The Gipsy moth was un- 

 fortunately introduced into Massachusetts about thirty years 

 ago and in recent years has cost over a million dollars an- 

 nually in a vain attempt to stamp it out, but with all that out- 

 lay they have not even been able to check its spread. 



AUTHORITIES AWAKENING. 



It is pleasing to note that at last the jNIassachusetts authori- 

 ties are aw^akening to the fact that it is useless to attempt the 

 extermination of that pest by artificial methods and have at 

 last made an effort to introduce its natural enemies. This I 

 learned by a letter from Prof. S. I. KuAvana, that he had for- 

 Avarded the "Gipsy moth" caterpillars with parasites from 

 Japan at the request of U. S. Consul Griscom. 



MANILA HEMP PLANTS. 

 Mi(sa tcrtilis. 



A shipment of twenty Manila "hemp banana" plants and 

 five rubber trees came from the Department of Agriculture, 

 Washington, D. C, and were in good condition and free from 

 pest or disease. 



