204 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



doing against the gypsy moth. We in Massachusetts felt 

 sure that, having begun a good work, we should carry it 

 out to the end. When we got to the point where the 

 Legislature could not see actual results of it and were not 

 inconvenienced by the caterpillars, the appropriation was 

 stopped. We had got to where there was not an extensive 

 colony extant, and now the work has to be done over again. 

 I would like to ask if there is any hope that the national 

 government will take hold of this pest. It is a peril to 

 the country. 



Mr. Bhigiiam. That is a question I do not feel justified 

 in answering. Congress is much like the State Legislature. 

 With anything like the foot and mouth disease, why, then 

 we can appeal to Congress with considerable hope of help. 

 Our department works under law, and with our appropria- 

 tions we can help investigate and study and ascertain, but 

 we could not do the work of suppression or extermination. 

 I would not hold out nmch hope on that line. You know 

 the gypsy moth does not spread very rapidlj^ so these other 

 people in Texas or California are not afraid of it yet. Just 

 like a man dieting for health, — when he begins to feel 

 better he wants to go to eating again ; that is the way 

 with these Legislatures. 



Mr. . I would suggest that, if the department does 



not feel like helping us because the female of the gypsy 

 moth does not fly, we have also the brown-tail moth, and 

 the female of that insect does fly. 



Mr. Lyman. I was very nmch pleased to hear Mr. Brig- 

 ham speak of our helping the department. We can help 

 the department very much by answering their questions 

 when they send us blanks. I think Mr. Brigham empha- 

 sized that point. 



Mr. Brigham. It is very important. 



In the evening, from 8 to 10 o'clock, a reception was 

 tendered by the Board of Trade and citizens of North 

 Adams to the Board of Agriculture and others attending 

 the meeting. The reception was held at the " Welling- 

 ton," and was a very delightful occasion. 



