352 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Report of the Entomologist. 



To the Committee on the Oypsy Moth. 



Gentlemen: — The work of exterminating the gypsy 

 moth has been carried on during the present season with 

 marked success, and the insect has been reduced to such an 

 extent over almost the entire territory that one who has 

 kept in close touch with the work for several years past 

 cannot fail to be impressed by the great gain that has been 

 made towards the extermination of this pest. 



Extermination by the State Possible. 



There is no longer any question in the minds of those 

 who have made a careful personal investigation of the work 

 throughout the infested territory that the gypsy moth can 

 be exterminated. Nearly all of the prominent economic 

 entomologists of this country have inspected the work with 

 great care and thoroughness, and have become fully con- 

 vinced that extermination is possible, if the Legislature 

 each year makes the full appropriation called for by the 

 gypsy moth committee. Their conclusions on this subject, 

 published in previous reports of this committee, show that 

 all expert testimony is in favor of continuing this work till 

 extermination is accomplished. 



The most extended investigations have been made by Dr. 

 L. O. Howard, entomologist to the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, who has made exceedingly thorough 

 examinations of the work during the last three years, and 

 has repeatedly expressed the opinion that it is possible to 

 exterminate the gypsy moth, if the full appropriations asked 

 for are made by the Legislature. 



In a letter from Dr. Howard, dated Oct. 23, 1899, he 

 writes as follows : " The condition of the entire territory is 

 admirable ; it surpasses my expectations of two years ago, 



