268 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



The moth is quite generally scattered throughout the Fells 

 reservation of the metropolitan park system. The worst 

 infestations, being known, have been watched and treated 

 under the direction of the Park Commission. It is apparent, 

 however, that the insect is increasing in these woodlands, 

 and more work will be needed in the future than in the past 

 to suppress it. 



The colonies in the residential districts have developed 

 faster than those of the woodlands, but from restricted food 

 supply and greater ease of treatment are not as large or as 

 difficult to control as those of the wooded sections. Their 

 rapid development as compared with the woodland colonies 

 may be due to the more heroic and extra thorough treatment 

 formerly given these latter colonies l\y the employees of the 

 committee. There is also little doubt that the greater abun- 

 dance of native insectivorous birds in the wooded sections 

 has resulted in checking to some extent the increase of the 

 moth, while the latter has been directly favored by the Eng- 

 lish sparrow in residential sections. The colonies in the 

 residential districts are of a very annoying nature. The 

 caterpillars strip orchard and shade trees, thereby destroying 

 fruit and foliage ; where abundant, they invade houses ; when 

 the food supply is exhausted, they^ march, often by night, in 

 search of foliage. It thus results that one may retire the 

 owner of trees in full foliage or garden crops in thrifty 

 growth, and wake to find only bare twigs or riddled leaves 

 where the caterpillar swarm has passed. Again, the resi- 

 dential colonies are the means of spreading the moths to an 

 important degree. The young caterpillars spin down from 

 the trees and drop on passing teams. In sections where the 

 wagons of the milkman, grocer or butcher are continually on 

 the road, a general infestation by the moth is bound to 

 result. 



At Watertown there is at least one large and important 

 colony in the residential district. In Cambridge and Som- 

 erville there are several small colonics. Belmont has one 

 large woodland colony, embracing nearly a square mile. 

 Arlington is generally infested. Along both sides of the 

 " upper mill })()iid " the willows are thoroughly infested. 



