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bringing in the boundaries as far as possible, to pay the market price for eggs and 

 grnbs, and to put their inspection work in progress, but they went into a miscella- 

 neous sprinkling and burning over the whole territory. The result now is that, as 

 nearly as I can ascertain, it would take a line 30 miles long to inclose the area these 

 insects occupy. They are found in a territory of not far from 50 square miles, though 

 not all over it. I should think that not more than 10 square miles were solidly occu- 

 pied. On the rest of it there are colonies here and there. 



The situation seems to me discouraging in a certain way, but it is an encouraging 

 fact that in about 20 years they have not occupied more than about 50 square miles, 

 and it shows that they are not to be readily transported to a great distance. Another 

 encouraging fact is that as far as I can learn, save at two or three very limited points 

 south of Charles River, the creature may be inclosed in this line on this side the river 

 [a map was shown], which it does not seem to have passed easily. It passed those 

 few points probably in hauling manure. 



Professor Fernald. Are you quite sure of the boundaries ? They are reported in 

 Maine and western Massachusetts. 



Professor Shaler. I know they are, but putting the worst face upon it, as 1 am at 

 present doing, I think an area of something like 5 by 10 miles is the region that has 

 got to be closely studied. There is a reasonable suspicion of it over an area of, say, 50 

 square miles, and the work has got to be done over that area. One of the discourag- 

 ing features is that there is a great trailfic through this territory. Railroads and 

 wagon roads go through it, and there is a pretty large traffic in manure out of the 

 district. We have $24,000 to spend, for certain, and I am sure the legislature will 

 give us anything in reason we ask for. 



Mr. Appleton. It seems to me the situation is this : Can we eradicate this thing; 

 and, if so, how? If we can not eradicate it entirely, what is the best we can do? 

 Now, the first question to consider, it seems to me, is, can we eradicate it or not? 



Professor Shaler. We should like to have the opinion of experts on that point. 

 Professor Riley, will you give us your word ? 



Professor Riley. I will be very glad to give you whatever suggestions I can on 

 the subject. I have taken the same interest in this matter since it was so promi- 

 nently announced that I do in all matters of applied entomology, and I have felt that 

 in the main. Professor Fernald's original suggestions were very wise. The insect, as 

 Professor Shaler has well said, has but limited powers of spreading. While the fe- 

 male has wings, it is heavy-bodied and flies but little, and the history of the past 20 

 years shows that its spread has been very gradual. Therefore we have a condition of 

 affairs totally different from that prevailing in the insect's native home, Europe, and 

 we are justified in making a strong effort to undo the harm that has been done. That 

 brings up, first of all, the question, is it practicable to exterminate it or not? In 

 view of Professor Shaler's statements, I have serious doubts ; because if it may be 

 said to occur in an area of, say, 50 square miles, if it is found even in a number of cen- 

 tral points of distribution in that area, there is great danger, in my judgment. My 

 own fears would be that it has got into the woods and onto trees that are not so easily 

 treated. So long as it was confined to cultivated trees and plants under cultivation 

 I think there would have been no difficulty at all, and the authorities would have 

 been blameworthy in allowing it to go out from Massachusetts over the rest of the 

 country. 



Professor Shaler. I don't think it has gotten into the woods. I think it is still 

 confinea to the artificial grounds as yet. 



Mr. Appleton. Don't you think it would be a good plan to ask these gentlemen 

 representing the difierent towns what their experience is in that direction ? 



Mr. Craig thought in a general way that they did not attack forest trees; were 

 confined as a rule to orchard trees and trees surrounding houses. Thought the reason 

 the spread was not greater the last 20 years was because the people took the insect 

 for some kind of canker worm and took pains to burn them off the trees, which they 

 did until they became too numerous to control. He recommended the use of tarred 



