72 



with my reputation for veracity, found it difficult to make 

 them believe, was that the deer cause us trouble here in 

 Massachusetts. If I had told them some stories a good deal 

 further from the truth, I presume they would have believed 

 them. I really think that we have a most interesting situa- 

 tion here, to the fellow that has no trees to be damaged by 

 deer. To think that the powers that be spend thousands 

 and millions of dollars to develop an industry, and then turn 

 around and protect, or practically protect, the very worst 

 pest to that industry, certainly makes a unique situation, 

 and I am very glad indeed that the Hampden County 

 Improvement League and other people are becoming inter- 

 ested in the situation. 



We are to have for the rest of the evening a Round 

 Table on this subject, the deer pl-oblem, and the session is 

 to be in charge of Mr. Scheuerle, the General Secretary of 

 the League and I take pleasure in presenting him to you 

 now. (Applause) 



Mr. Scheuerle outlined the history of the League, its 

 purposes and aims and the manner in which its operations 

 are conducted. 



The damage which deer do to fruit trees was discussed 

 by Mr. R. H. Race of Egremont, taking the place of Profes- 

 sor Waugh, who was unable to be present. Mr. Race stated 

 that he had seen and experienced a great deal of damage 

 caused by deer ; stated it was a very serious problem to fruit 

 growers and farmers. Mr. Race said that 15 years ago he 

 saw only one deer in his locality, that 5 years ago he saw 16 

 at once, and that he has been told of 150 being in one local- 

 ity; that he has been told of deer destroying 91 out of 100 

 trees which were set out a year ago ; that it costs the farmer 

 $40 for each deer raised ; that unless the deer nuisance is 

 stamped out it will be impossible to raise fruit in Massachu- 

 setts in the near future ; that the deer meat is tuberculous, 



A speaker corroborated Mr. Race, following which 

 many others made the same statements in effect. 



Mr. C. W, Carpenter of Monson, gave his experiencet 

 with the damage done to grass and field crops by deer; 

 stated that the deer are very fond of grasses and legumes; 

 that he had had alfalfa and clover destroyed by them with- 

 out its being given opportunity to grow, being browsed even 



