218 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc 



iiient of t'lK'ir habits, and dcscribos the ])r('|)anition and use 

 of ert'ective remedies. It imiy hv had upon application to 

 the secretary of the Board. 



As is well known, active Avork against the gypsy moth 

 was discontinued by action of the Legislature Feb. 1, 1900, 

 the field work practically ending at the close of the calendar 

 year 1899. The insect has thus had five years in which to 

 increase unrestricted, except for such etforts as have been put 

 forth from time to time by individuals and municipalities. 



The claim advanced by many, at the time the State work 

 stopped, that every property owner would fight the pest on 

 his own property, has thus been put to trial. It is profit- 

 able, as showing the efficacy of individual effort against the 

 insect, to revicAv briefly the conditions existing in 1899 at 

 the close of the State's systematic attempt to suppress the 

 moth, and contrast them with those obtaining at the end 

 of five years of effort on the part of individual proi)erty 

 owners, and in some cases by municipalities. 



Condition of Infested Region. — 1899 v. 1904. 

 Within the two years ending December, 1899, practically 

 the entire infested territory had been thoroughly examined 

 by trained employees, a large part of the examination hav- 

 ing been made in the year 1899. The report of the com- 

 mittee for that year, together with the additional report of 

 the special legislative investigating committee, gives state- 

 ments concerning the actual condition of the moth-infested 

 district at that time. As a basis for comparison of present 

 V. past conditions, we have the results of the very thorough 

 examination of the region made the past summer by Prof. 

 C. L. ]Vrarlatt, first assistant entomologist, United States 

 Department of Agriculture, and Mr. A. II. Kirkland, a 

 l(K'al entomoloo'ist Mdio is thorouahlv familiar with the insect 

 and the territory it occupies. Professor Marlatt has kindly 

 sent us an advance copy of his report, while Mr. Kirkland 

 has placed his copious notes at our disposal. From these 

 several sources there are thus available reliable data con- 

 cerning the condition of the several infested cities and 

 towns in 1899 and in 1904. 



