C0mm0ittotaItb ai Utassarl^us^tts* 



To the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture. 



Your committee in charge of the work to prevent the 

 spreading and secure the extermination of the g^T^J i^oth 

 in this Commonwealth presents herewith a report of expen- 

 ditures made and work performed during the year 1899. 



The balance of the appropriation for 1898 on hand Jan. 1, 

 1899, was $5,862.74. This balance was apparent rather than 

 actual, since it was practically exhausted for bills incurred 

 for labor and supplies during the preceding December. The 

 law empowers your committee, in common with other State 

 departments, to continue expenditures during the month of 

 January, " until the pleasure of the General Court is made 

 known, at the rate of expenditure authorized by the appro- 

 priations for the preceding year." By this arrangement, ac- 

 tive operations against the moth were carried on throughout 

 the month. 



At this time the examination of the woodland in the in- 

 fested district was continued when the weather permitted. 

 During storms and after heavy snow falls the work was con- 

 fined to the woodland colonies, where the eggs of the moth 

 were destroyed, the dead and sickly trees cut and the re- 

 maining trees put in condition for burlapping. Owing to 

 the rigorous weather of the season, the force, numbering 

 some four hundred men January 1 , gradually diminished by 

 resignations and sickness to about three hundred and fifty 

 men at the close of the month. The Legislature having 

 failed to make provision for continuing the work, active 

 field operations were discontinued February 1, the tools 

 were recalled from the field and the force suspended indefi- 

 nitely. 



