464 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



nuisance, the law so distinctly saying that the presence of mosquito larvae 

 in water constitutes a nuisance. Constant oiling has proved effective, and I 

 have found very few local mosquitoes this summer, the bulk of those observed 

 being visitors from the marshes. I have no doubt that when the Newark 

 Board of Works relieves the one spot on the Newark meadows, which is 

 breeding ground not amenable to ditching, and Elizabeth can be imbued 

 with enough life and go to get to work, that Essex county will be practically 

 free from mosquitoes, providing local boards of health do their part." 



(Signed) T. N. GRAY. 



The following- report on the South Orange work is submitted 

 by Mr. S. E. Allen : 



"The anti-mosquito work in South Orange began in the spring 

 of 1901. The field presented many difficulties. The town had 

 then no sewerage system. There were 1,700 cesspools and set- 

 tling basins, many of which were found to contain larvae. In 

 common with other suburban towns, streets had been laid out in 

 many places in such a manner as to obstruct the natural drainage 

 and create swampy areas. The area treated is two mil^s long 

 by one and three-quarters wide, and scattered throughout are 

 tracts of rough woodland concealing pools of water, and by their 

 shade preventing rapid evaporation. The ground is high, but the 

 soil is largely clay and not easily drained. The close proximity 

 of large areas of swampy land on the top of the Orange Moun- 

 tains on the one side, and the threat of invasion by mosquitoes 

 from the Newark Meadows following a few days of east wind, 

 render it difficult to disassociate the homebred from the imported 

 mosquitoes, and so estimate the results. 



"It was decided that if the local broods were eliminated and 

 breeding places abolished, the importation from outside would 

 cause only temporary discomfort and would rapidly disappear 

 soon after their arrival. 



"During the first year a large amount of oil (about sixty barrels 

 in all) was used : for a part of the season crude petroleum, and at 

 the end a contract was made with the manufacturer of a chemical 

 oil. The results attained were encouraging. The amount ex- 

 pended was about $1000. It was recognized, however, that oil 

 was but a temporary and an expensive expedient — -that drainage 

 was the only permanent cure. 



"Accordingly, in the spring of 1902 a systematic sch.eme to pro- 

 mote drainage was commenced. The town was divided into four 

 districts, with a committee over each, whose business it was to 

 raise money and expend it to the best advantage, each on its own 

 district. The owners of property containing stagnant water were 

 requested to drain and fill in, which many of them did. When 

 owners could not be reached, the funds raised by subscription 

 were applied. Sometimes the owners paid part, and the balance 



