300 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



March 19, received instructions, and then went to Maiden. On 

 Friday, March 20, sixteen men were in the field. 



Organization. — Beginning of /Section Work. 



It was at once seen that the work of crushing out the species 

 would be an arduous task. For an undertaking of this charai 

 and magnitude, men were needed who by nature and training were 

 fitted for the work. A perfect system was imperative. An inti- 

 mate acquaintance with the country must be acquired. An accu- 

 rate knowledge of the habits of the insect was a necessity, and 

 constant vigilance an indispensable requisite. 



"When field operations were commenced, the eggs of the gypsy 

 moth were the only living form of the pest. The men were care- 

 fully trained to recognize and destroy them, and to distinguish 

 between their eggs and those of our native moths. They were 

 taught to observe all evidences of the existence of the gypsy moth, 

 and were requested to secure all information possible in regard to 

 its habits. Each inspector was instructed to make out a daily 

 written report of the work done by himself and his men, and to 

 include in this report his observations on the habits of the insect. 

 Many valuable facts were thus recorded during the season. As 

 the force was organized, each inspector was given a squad of men, 

 and a section, indicated by a map, was allotted him, with instruc- 

 tions to inspect it, and destroy the eggs therein. When eggs were 

 found upon a tree, the tree was marked with white paint and the 

 locality designated upon the map. Special implements for the 

 work were invented as necessity required, and a stock of equip- 

 ments and material was gradually accumulated. 



At this time the gypsy moth was supposed to be confined to eight 

 or nine towns. Inspectors were sent out to determine how far it 

 had extended, and soon found small colonies in other towns. It 

 was at once evident that inspection must be continued until the 

 limits of the infested district were determined. This method was 

 followed until the new leaves covering the trees rendered further 

 inspection impracticable. The work was resumed when the cater- 

 pillars had nearly reached maturity, was continued after the leaves 

 fell, and is still in progress. 



After the men had received the training and experience without 

 which their work would have been of little value, there remained 

 but six weeks in which to make a hasty inspection of the territory 

 and destroy the eggs. Although the work was thus necessarily 

 hurried and imperfect, yet, in consequence of it, the insects have 

 not since appeared in more than sixty localities where the eggs 

 were found in the spring. The infested towns farthest from the 



