No. 4.] THE GYPSY MOTH. 345 



preferences, but feeds as readily on the oak, chestnut and 

 pine as upon the apple, peach and pear. Careful experi- 

 ments have also shown that even the cotton plant may be 

 included in its menu. In fact, the moth has been known to 

 feed upon not less than four hundred and fifty-eight species 

 of trees and plants. Were the existing restrictions removed, 

 it would seem possible that the moth would become estab- 

 lished, and prove a formidable pest in all those regions of 

 our country where the apple, peach, pine and cotton flourish ; 

 and this conclusion finds support in the well-known habits 

 and distribution of the insect in its native home. The chief 

 factor that w^ould prevent such a condition of affairs would 

 be the occurrence and multiplication of parasites and other 

 natural enemies in numbers sufficient to check the develop- 

 ment of the moth. The assumption that this would actually 

 occur seems hardly warranted in view of the moth's gradual 

 but continuous increase in Massachusetts throughout the 

 twenty years preceding the inception of the attempt to 

 secure its extermination. In spite of the many birds and 

 parasites that are known to prey upon it here, the moth 

 where neglected soon increases to formidable numbers. 

 While it is of vital importance to our own agricultural 

 interests that the pest should be eradicated in our State, it 

 is apparent that the problem has a significance not limited 

 by State bounds. The State of Massachusetts has courage- 

 ously attempted to deal with this pest. To secure the 

 desired end, her tax-payers have supported the work with 

 liberal appropriations. Having demonstrated the possibility 

 of exterminating the insect, and having for years protected 

 other States from damage from this pest, it would seem 

 that the Commonwealth might now with justice request and 

 receive national assistance in bringing this important under- 

 taking to a successful issue. If steps are taken to secure 

 the co-operation of the national government, it would seem 

 to be even more incumbent upon the State to provide liber- 

 ally at the present time for the vigorous prosecution of this 

 work. 



One of the most unfortunate conditions existing in the 

 area over which the gypsy moth is distributed is the general 

 infestation of woodlands which have been set apart for 



