1G4 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



such woodland colonies, the policy adopted, seems to be that 

 best suited to the needs of the case. 



During the j)ast year it has been practically demonstrated 

 by those experimenting with the insect that during the early 

 stages of the gypsy moth caterpillar's life it cannot live on 

 white pine alone. For the first two weeks or more of the 

 caterpillar's existence it requires the more tender foliage of 

 hard-wood trees or shrubs. The field experiments of the 

 past year have demonstrated that by keeping pine planta- 

 tions free from hard-wood growths, and by properly banding 

 with sticky materials the trees on the borders of such planta- 

 tions, damage by the gypsy moth to white j^ine can be entirely 

 prevented. This is of the first importance, as it shows that 

 one of our most valuable timber trees can still be grown, 

 even in the midst of infested territory, if its owners will take 

 the necessary precautions. 



Dr. L. O. Howard has continued to direct the work of 

 importing the Euroj)ean and Asiatic parasites found prey- 

 ing upon the gypsy moth. We are informed that many 

 thousands of these insects have been liberated in the infested 

 district, and that several important species have already 

 established themselves. We hope that the final results of this 

 experiment may be all that its most sanguine promoters claim 

 for it, though we confess to grave doubts as to its having 

 such a satisfactory outcome. Your committee is, as from the 

 first, somewhat skeptical of the value of these imported para- 

 sites. Nevertheless, the experiment is one that should be 

 continued. Certainly it is the only hope we have of the 

 final destruction of the gypsy moth, or even, we fear, its 

 reduction to the point where it is less of a menace to the 

 country than it is to-day. Therefore these experiments in 

 importation and breeding of parasites should be continued, 

 without stinting of means, far beyond the point where we 

 can say that it is demonstrated that they are not a success ; 

 like work over a drowned person, they should be continued 

 so long as there is the slightest possible hope of success. Cer- 

 tainly they are not so well established at present that we can 

 afford to forego in any degree the efforts now being made 

 in the way of field work. 



The brown-tail moth seems to be established firmly in the 



