38 



USEFUL BIRDS. 



l)y insects, and have estimated in each case the probaljle averas,e yearly 

 reduction in value caused b}^ these pests. The data used are given be- 

 low. I have tried to make a conservative estimate in the case of each 

 product, since, to have any value, such an estimate should fall below 

 rather than above the actual amount. Even then the figures afford 

 material for serious reflection on the part of agriculturists. 



Value 

 of Product. 



Percentage 



damaged 



by Insects. 



Amount 

 of Damage. 



Greenhouse products, 



Hothouse and hotbed products, 



Nursery ]iroducts, 



AViKid i.ruducts, .... 



Cereal pr<i(hicts. 



Fruits, berries, and nuts, 



Hay and fodder crops. 



Vegetables, 



Tobacco, 



Property : — 

 Fruit trees, vines, etc., . 



Totals 



$1,749,070 



97.227 



182,90(5 



2,780, .•U4 



1,104,578 



2,850,585 



12,491,090 



G,.S89,5:^.3 



544,908 



7,924..S7S 



.§36,115,149 



10 

 5 

 15 

 20 

 5 

 25 

 10 

 20 

 10 



10 



$174,907 00 



4,8(il 35 



27,435 90 



55(5,0(i2 80 



55,228 90 



712,()4(; 25 



1,249,109 00 



1,277.90(5 (50 



54,49(i 80 



792,487 80 



.$4,905, 142 40 



Assuming the accuracy- of these data, and exclusive of the damage 

 Avrought by insects to our woodlands, street trees, parks, etc., we have 

 in round figures five million dollars as the average annual damage from 

 insects to agricultural products and proi^erty in this Commonwealth. 



While the cost of insect injury is enormous, the expense 

 of fighting injurious insects in the attempt to protect crops 

 and trees from their ravages is proportionately great. In 

 recent years Massachusetts has had, and is still having, a 

 costly experience in attempting to control or suppress an 

 imported insect. 



The gipsy moth {Porthetria dispar), a well-known pest 

 of European countries, was introduced into Medford, Mass., 

 by Mr. Leopold Trouvelot, in 18(58 or 1869. Twenty years 

 later the moths had increased in numbers to such an extent 

 that they were destroying the trees and shriibl)ery in that 

 section of Medford where they were first liberated. 



They swarmed over the houses of the inhabitants, invaded 

 their gardens, and became such a })ul)lic nuisance that in 

 1890 the Legislature appropriated fifty thousand dollars for 

 their extermination. It was learned within the next two years 

 that the moths had spread over thirty towns. The State 



