348 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



more were destroyed by fire. During the past fall a careful 

 search of these colonies by skilled employees resulted in the 

 findino^ of less than one hundred eo-fy-clusters. 



The only unfortunate developments of the past year 

 are the finding of colonies of the moth in Newton and 

 Georgetown. The discovery of these colonies is not sur- 

 prising, in view of the large number of gypsy moths that 

 were necessarily allowed to increase in the woodlands 

 of the infested district in the years of restricted appro- 

 priations. In fact, the finding of outside colonies has 

 been repeatedly predicted in past reports. It would not 

 be surprising if similar colonies should be found in the near 

 future near the border of the infested district. Such colonies 

 being usually restricted in their area, and well isolated, their 

 extermination presents no unsurmountable difficulty. 



From the results of the past two years, it is evident 

 that the work against the gypsy moth in Massachusetts is 

 already approaching its final stages. The large colonies 

 have been practically wiped out ; many of the smaller col- 

 onies have been exterminated or are thoroughly under con- 

 trol, and need but two or three seasons' work to secure 

 their absolute extermination. Three years ago there were 

 many localities in the infested district where there were 

 large masses of egg-clusters. To-day the infestation of the 

 region consists of the scattered remains of former colonies 

 and their ofishoots, which must be subjected to careful and 

 continual examination and treatment for a series of years. 

 Since there are no longer large colonies to demand atten- 

 tion, a greater amount of labor will be available for this 

 work of inspection and the treatment of the smaller colonies. 



During the ensuing year, should suitable funds be made 

 available early in the year, all localities where egg-clusters 

 were found during the fall inspection should be cleared up 

 and made ready for burlapping. The work of examining 

 the towns not yet inspected should be prosecuted with the 

 utmost rapidity consistent with thorough work, and any 

 findings of the moth promptly stamped out and the infested 

 areas cleared up. If this work can be prosecuted without 

 unncessary delays during the year 1900, the entire territory 

 will be in better condition for the summer's work than ever 



