284 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



A study of the conditions which have produced isolated 

 moth colonies has made it possible to determine what kind 

 of localities in towns outside the known infested territory 

 were in most danger of becoming infested during the years 

 when the moth was abundant and spreading. In inspecting 

 such towns particular attention has been paid to all places 

 where vehicles from the infested region have frequently 

 stopped, such as hotels, stores, picnic grounds, public 

 parks, the premises of milkmen, peddlers, and of all persons 

 who have travelled regularly in vehicles through the in- 

 fested region on the way to and from Boston. By a study 

 of the teaming from an infested town it is often possible to 

 determine what places in other towns may have become 

 infested by such teaming. 



To illustrate: during 1889, 1890 and 1891 swill was 

 hauled from the almshouse at Cambridge directly under 

 trees which were then badly infested. As a i)robable result 

 forty-six of the estates in towns to Avhich the swill was trans- 

 ported became infested. 



During the spring and summer of 1893 statistics of traffic 

 and travel were gathered and tabulated, and two men, under 

 the direction of Professor Shaler of the committee, were sent 

 out in the region south of Boston with instructions to ex- 

 amine all localities where travel by teams centred. Their 

 search resulted in the discovery of the moth in Franklin 

 Park, Boston's largest public park. The moths appeared 

 to have been established there from three to five years, but 

 (as is usual with isolated colonies) had not spread rapidly. 

 Much work has been done in Franklin Park l>y the employees 

 of the Board, but it is doubtful whether the moths have yet 

 been exterminated, as the tangle of ornamental vines and 

 shrubbery which underlies the infested trees renders the 

 result of the season's work problematical. The place must 

 be carefully watched to secure extermination. 



The railroads running north from the infested region were 

 then followed up by these men as far as the southern por- 

 'tions of Maine and New Hampshire. The trees along the 

 main lines and near stations and sidings were examined, but 

 no moths were found. Eighteen men were also employed 

 in a thorough inspection of the towns contiguous to the in- 



