20 



also be destro^^ea by a Paris-green spray, in the proportion of 1 pound 

 to 100 or even 150 gallons of water. A stronger mixture will burn 

 the foliage. Arsenate of lead, however, ma}^ be applied much stronger, 



and this substance should be used when the 

 caterpillars are larger. Mr. Sanderson, as the 

 result of an experiment in New Hampshire, 

 recommends 5 pounds of arsenate of lead to 

 a barrel of water when the caterpillars are 

 large. 



Organized efforts" have been made in man}'^ 

 villages and towns, under the auspices of local 

 associations, to. secure the collection and de- 

 struction of the nests in the winter. In some 

 cases the services of scliool children and others 

 have been enlisted by the payment of a small 

 ))ounty, and ver}' many thousands of nests 

 have been collected and destroyed in this waj^ 

 Massachusetts is now working under a good 

 State law, a summar}^ of which is published 

 below. Other States already infested or liable to infestation in the 

 near future should pass similar laws. 



Fig. 10. — Pruning shears suita- 

 ble for removing the winter 

 webs of the brown-tail moth. 

 (From Fernald and Kirk- 

 land.) 



THE MASSACHUSETTS LAW. 



The following is a summar}^ of the essential features of the Massa- 

 chusetts law to provide for suppressing the gips}" and brown-tail moths: 



The moths are public nuisances. — The gipsy and brown- tail moths are 

 declared public nuisances and their suppression is required. 



The superintendent of suppression. — A superintendent appointed b}" 

 the governor with power, subject to the governor's approval, of 

 appointing agents and assistants has entire general charge of the 

 work of suppressing the moths. 



Duties of cities, towns, and individuals. — Cities and towns (under the 

 advice and general direction of the superintendent, and by such agent 

 as they may designate or appoint) are required, under penalty for 

 neglect, to destroy the eggs, pupse, and nests of the gips}^ and the 

 brown-tail moths within their limits, excepting that such work is not 

 to be done by cities and towns on property controlled b}^ the Common- 

 wealth, nor is it to be done upon private property, excepting where 

 the owners of the same fail to destroy the eggs, pupa?, and nests of 

 the moths, in accordance with the terms of the official notice to private 

 owners noted in the section here following: 



Notice to private owners. — The mayor of every city and the select- 

 men of every town shall, at suitable times, notify every owner of land 



264 



