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



State will be a matter of only a few decades. The figures 

 given below are significant : — 



Sq. Miles. 



Area infested, fall of 1896, 29 



Area Infested, fall of 1897, 158 



Area infested, fall of 1898, .448 



Area infested, fall of 1899, 928 



The areas given in the above table are those of the cities 

 and towns in which the winter webs of the moth for the 

 respective years w^ere found. When the moth was first 

 noticed in May, 1897, the winter webs of 1896 were still 

 visible, and indicated the area occupied by the insect that 

 year. The figures given in the above table make evident the 

 hopelessness of attempting to exterminate the brown-tail 

 moth. In fact, the co-operation of Massachusetts and New 

 Hampshire would now be necessary as the first step in an 

 attempt toward extermination. The destruction of large 

 masses of the insect tends to check its spread, and it is pos- 

 sible that the attempt to secure its control may be carried 

 on as at present under State auspices more economically 

 than by miscellaneous undirected individual efforts. 



It cannot be doubted that we are soon to see the general 

 distribution of this insect over the Commonwealth ; and in 

 view of the approach of this unfortunate condition, it would 

 seem wise to provide for the publication and distribution 

 among the citizens of the State of a carefully prepared report, 

 which shall set forth the habits of the insect and the various 

 remedies best suited to insure its destruction. 



A. H. KIRKLAND. 



