294 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



work in progress should be continued. To prevent the 

 transportation of caterpillars by teams, a large force of 

 police was employed to guard the roads leading from the 

 infested territory ; but it was found impossible to make 

 their work effective, and other means were resorted to to 

 overcome the danger of spreading by transportation. 



A code of rules and regulations was adopted, a copy of 

 which is appended to this report. On June 3rd an additional 

 appropriation of $50,000 for the work was made by the 

 Legislature. The force was immediately increased, and the 

 work of spraying pushed with all possible rapidity. More 

 than thirty teams and not less than two hundred and thirty 

 men were employed. This work was continued until the 

 caterpillars had so far ceased to feed that the spraying had 

 little effect upon them. Vast numbers were destroyed by 

 the spraying ; but, from the fact that they were hatching all 

 through the season, and the larvae in all stages of growth 

 were present at the same time and also that many had 

 changed into the pupa stage before the latest hatching had 

 been completed, it was found that spraying could not be 

 depended on to kill them all. Their habit of spinning down 

 when disturbed, and crawling away into the grass or other 

 concealed situations, also prevents complete destruction by 

 spraying. 



On June 18th, Prof. Chas. H. Fernald of the Massachusetts 

 Agricultural College was appointed entomological adviser to 

 the committee, and was requested to at once critically exam- 

 ine the field work of the committee, and make a written 

 report thereon, with suggestions and advice for the future. 

 This was done by the professor, and since then he has from 

 time to time visited the infested territory and inspected the 

 work, directing experiments and advising as to the work in 

 progress, and making a written report of each visit. At the 

 suirsrestion of Professor Fernald the director and all the 

 force were directed to watch for parasites preying upon 

 the insect in its various stages. As a result, several such 

 parasites were discovered. Professor Fernald advised that 

 these native parasites be observed and experimented with 

 before incurring the expense of importing others from 

 Europe, the indications being that the natives might be able 



