No. 4.] THE GYPSY MOTH. 425 



and favor a small appropriation for its extermination. No 

 appropriation was made therefore for the purpose of de- 

 stroying the brown-tail moth ; but a sum not to exceed 

 $10,000 was finally set aside by the Legislature from the 

 appropriation already made for the extermination of the 

 gypsy moth, to be used as required to " prevent the spread 

 of the brown-tail moth" in the Commonwealth. This bill 

 did not pass the Legislature until nearly the end of the ses- 

 sion, and so late that it was impossible for the Board then 

 to take any means whatever to check the spread of the 

 brown-tail moths, which were then in the chrysalis, from 

 which they emerged in a few days to fly about the country. 

 Investigation was soon begun, however, with a view to learn- 

 ing the experience with the species in Europe. Consider- 

 able spraying was done when the August brood of caterpillars 

 appeared, and an examination of the region surrounding the 

 towns known to be infested was made as soon as the leaves 

 fell. 



Later a rapid inspection was made, to determine the ex- 

 tent of the region infested by the brown-tail moth. This 

 inspection had not been finished Jan 1, 1899, when the 

 money appropriated for the brown-tail moth work was ex- 

 hausted. At that time this moth had been found in thirty- 

 two towns and cities ; but in all these towns and cities, 

 except Somerville, Cambridge, Maiden, Medford and Ever- 

 ett, it was either not numerous or very rare. In all the 

 infested towns and cities, except the cities mentioned as 

 nearest the centre, the webs of the moth found were only 

 one or two seasons old. It was thus proved that the spread 

 of the moth outside of Somerville, Cambridge, Medford, 

 Maiden and Everett had occurred almost entirely within the 

 two years since the moth was first discovered in Somerville 

 by agents of the Board. 



It has thus been demonstrated that, had the $10,000 been 

 promptly granted when first asked for, the brown-tail moth 

 might have been very nearly stamped out at that time, and 

 its spread over all these towns prevented. 



On November 29 nearly the entire gypsy moth field force 

 (exclusive of a gang of wood cutters specially engaged for 

 temporary work) was set at work destroying the brown- 

 tail moth in Somerville. Work against the brown-tail 



