212 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Field Director's Report. 



To the Committee on the Cypsy Moth, Bisects and Birds. 



Gentlemen: — The appropriation of 1894 being nearly 

 exhausted in January, the field force was discharged on Feb- 

 ruary 6. No work was done in the field thereafter until early 

 in May, when it was seen that an appropriation would soon 

 become available. The season, being very early, was particu- 

 larly favorable for the increase and rapid development of the 

 moths, and the necessity for prompt action was appreciated. 

 Those experienced men who were willing to await remunera- 

 tion for their services until the Legislature should make an 

 appropriation were engaged and put at work early in May. 

 Arrangements were made for the purchase of supplies and the 

 examination of applicants for positions on the force. When 

 the appropriation became available, on May 17, it was too 

 late to accomplish much by the destruction of eggs, as most 

 of them had hatched; therefore, of necessity, the spring work 

 was left undone, three months' time having passed by unim- 

 proved which it had been planned to devote to the destruction 

 of eggs, the most important extermi native measure. This 

 enforced neglect necessitated later the killing of the cater- 

 pillars which hatched from the eggs in the neglected localities, 

 at an expense ten times greater than the cost of destroying 

 the eggs. Furthermore, it had been planned to burn over 

 some badly infested places where wood and brush had been cut 

 in the previous fall. This burning was to have been done in 

 the early spring when the young caterpillars were hatching, 

 as it is then most effective. This could not be done at that 

 time, however, as the appropriation had not then been made. 

 By the time the force was organized for the work of the 

 season it was too late, as the leaves had started, and the 

 work of burlapping to catch the caterpillars had to be done 



