312 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P.D. No. 4. 



least, and employ skilled men to light the pest where it now is, 

 for our chances of exterminating the insect lie only in this direc- 

 tion. There are some who think the insect can never be extermi- 

 nated ; but, if this should prove true, it would even then be far 

 cheaper to make an annual appropriation and employ experienced 

 men to tight the pest hi its present restricted territory, than to 

 suffer it to spread over the entire Commonwealth and country, 

 and depend upon our farmers to fight the pest, — or neglect it, as 

 is done too frequently with other insects. 



I have elsewhere published an estimate of the cost to our Massa- 

 chusetts farmers of applying Paris green to the potato crop alone 

 for the destruction of the potato beetle, and the amount was 

 $76,000 annually. The gypsy moth, as is well known, feeds on 

 nearly all of our trees and other plants ; and, as a result, the cost 

 of fighting this pest, if spread over the State, will be vastly 

 greater than that of the potato beetle. Will it be wise, therefore, 

 to allow this destructive pest to extend beyond its present limits? 



I have given the most careful thought and consideration, as 

 well as such supervision as my time would allow, to the entire 

 work of destroying the gypsy moth during the past season, and 

 have made frequent reports to your committee. I now feel that 

 everything has been done that was possible, under the circum- 

 stances, and I would at this time recommend that the work be 

 carried on next year in the same manner as it has been done this 

 year, but on a more extensive plan, and, if possible, with more 

 vigor. 



Respectfully submitted, 



(Signed) C. H. FERNALP 



