No. 4.] THE GYPSY MOTH. 227 



Entomologist's Report. 



To the Commit tec on the Gypsy Moth. 



Gentlemen: — During the past year I have given what 

 time it was possible to the inspection of the work of de- 

 stroying the gypsy moth, and to the oversight of the experi- 

 mental work. The held work has been carried on by Mr. 

 Forbush and his assistants in a most thorough and satisfactory 

 manner, and a vast deal of work has been accomplished. 



For several years past the experimental work has been 

 carried on either in the office at Maiden or in a room at the 

 storehouse on Commercial Street ; but neither of these places 

 was suitable for the experiments that we considered necessary 

 to have performed, and therefore in the early part of the sum- 

 mer a small lot of land in the edge of the forest in the suburbs 

 of Maiden was leased, and an insectary was erected on it for 

 experimental purposes. This building has a small greenhouse 

 on the south side and a covered shed on the north. It con- 

 tains a main laboratory, with tables, closets, etc., a private 

 laboratory and a chemical room on the first floor ; while the 

 second floor contains a lodging-room for the employees. The 

 experimental work carried on in this building during the sum- 

 mer of 1895 has proved far more satisfactory than that in the 

 building on Commercial Street, because of the greater con- 

 veniences for the work and more healthful conditions for the 

 caterpillars. 



To relieve me in part of the constant care and oversight of 

 the experimental work, Mr. A. IT. Kirkland, a graduate of the 

 Massachusetts Agricultural College, was appointed assistant 

 entomologist, and has had charge of the insectary and the 

 experiments carried on there, as well as in the field. Mr. 

 Kirkland is admirably fitted for this position, having worked 

 three years in the insectary at Amherst. The committee may 



