No. 4.] GYPSY MOTH. 269 



There i« an importont colony in the north-western part of the 

 town, near the Behnont line. Lexington has a few small 

 colonies and one of considerable size near the Woburn line. 

 Winchester shows scattered infestations, with at least one 

 large woodland colony in the southern part. Medford, 

 Maiden and Melrose are thoroughly infested, both in wood- 

 land and residential sections. The moth is present in large 

 numbers in each of these cities, and here next season, if 

 unmolested, will cause widespread damage. Everett and 

 Chelsea have a fair quota of residential colonies. Saugus, 

 Lynn and Lynnfield have important woodland colonies. 

 The outlying sections — Newton, Lincoln, Georgetown and 

 the north shore — are still in comparatively good condition. 



Now that it is well known that relief from the gypsy moth 

 is necessary, it will not be amiss to review briefly the history 

 of the State work against the pest. The first notable ravages 

 of the moth took place in 1888-90. In Arlington, Medford, 

 Maiden, Everett and vicinity, fruit trees, shade trees and 

 even garden crops were ravaged to such an extent, and the 

 caterpillars became such a nuisance, that the municipal 

 authorities of eight cities and towns united in petitioning 

 the Legislature of 1890 for State help in suppressing the 

 moth. The people had combated the swarming insects as 

 best they could, had been defeated at every turn, and as a 

 last resort invoked the aid of the Commonwealth to save 

 their trees from destruction. 



The State Avork, at first carried on by two successive com- 

 missions, was placed in charge of the Board of Agriculture 

 in April, 1891. From 1890 to 1899 inclusive the several 

 Legislatures appropriated various sums, aggregating about a 

 million and a quarter of dollars, " to prevent the spreading 

 and secure the extermination " of this foreign insect pest. 

 It was a novel undertaking, — a step into an unknown field. 

 There was no precedent for a giude. Methods had to be 

 devised and perfected. The territory had to be scouted and 

 the infested areas located. Men had to be selected, trained 

 and organized, so that the greatest possible results might be 

 obtained. Legislative appropriations were ample in certain 

 years, in others much reduced below the needs of the work. 



