xii BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



The Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture has been 

 instant in season to give warning and to suggest remedies. 

 Its work against the gypsy moth was so well done that there 

 was not a large colony when it was suspended. The danger 

 from the brown-tail moth Avas clearly seen, and the warning 

 given was endorsed by Governor Wolcott ; but the Legisla- 

 ture was wiser, and the result will be its progress across the 

 continent. The elm-leaf beetle is now a menace to our most 

 graceful tree all over New England, and there is no sadder 

 sight than these broAvn branches struggling against vicious 

 foes. The San Jose scale is getting too fatal a hold of our 

 fruit product. In the mean time, Massachusetts has no laws 

 of scrutiny or power to enforce inspection, fumigation or 

 safety. All the pests of Europe can come in through the 

 port of Boston. Dr. Howard of the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture writes this office that such an invoice 

 of plants and shrubs, consigned to such a party, has arrived 

 at San Francisco or Boston, via such a steamer, on such a 

 day, and asks us to see that it is inspected before it is dis- 

 tributed, — and we are powerless. The importer knows the 

 laws, or rather the lack of them, and he will go as far as the 

 law compels, and no farther. 



This Board has a noble record that shall never grow dim. 

 It has been first and foremost to point out the danger and 

 urge the remedy, — yes, more, it has given the State the 

 noblest example of self-sacrifice, in its committee working- 

 year after year without compensation to protect and pre- 

 serve the beauty of its landscape, the value of its forests, 

 the benefit of its agriculture. It is well the present secre- 

 tary should say this, because in its work he had so small a 

 part. It is the simple record of the work of the Board, and 

 the record of this part of the work of this Board will be like 

 the Scotch saying in regard to the planting of the tree, 

 " it will grow when we be sleeping." 



Loss to the State from Insect Pests. 



The destruction that wastes at night as well as at noonday 

 in all parts of our State to an incredible extent is that caused 

 bv insects, large and small. The extent of defoliation and 

 destruction, the damage to fruits and vegetables, the de- 



