426 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



moth was continued throughout the region known to con- 

 tain it until Jan. 1, 1899, when the appropriation was ex- 

 hausted. The cost of this work being wholly sustained by 

 a sum deducted from the gypsy moth appropriation, the 

 gypsy moth work will be, of necessity, correspondingly 

 delayed and slackened. 



The brown-tail moth work was begun in Somerville, the 

 city in which the moth was first discovered. This city has 

 been from the beginning the most infested. The entire city 

 was gone over, and the webs of the moth taken off the trees. 

 The work was then carried into Cambridge, and most of 

 the worst-infested parts of the city were gone over. Some 

 similar sections of Medford and Everett were also covered ; 

 but there still remains much work to be done in Maiden, 

 Medford, Everett, Charlestown and Cambridge, in locali- 

 ties considerably infested, and where the brown-tail moth 

 is likely to cause serious trouble unless an appropriation 

 for the purpose of destroying it is made early in the sea- 

 son, before the caterpillars come forth from their webs. 



For details of the year's work, reference is made to the 

 report of Mr. E. H. Forbush, field director, which follows 

 the report of Prof. C. H. Fernald, entomologist to the 

 Board, both of which are presented herewith as a part of 

 the report of the committee. The report of the field direc- 

 tor also contains an account of the season's work and a 

 statement in detail as to the present condition of the in- 

 fested towns. 



The committee hereby records its sense of obligation to 

 Prof. C. H. Fernald, entomologist, and to Mr. E. H. For- 

 bush, field director, for their highly valuable services. 



The following is the financial report of the gypsy moth 

 committee of the State Board of Agriculture for the year 

 1898: — 



Financial Statement for 1898, — Gypsy Moth. 



Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1898, $2,298 94 



Appropriation for the year 1898, $200,000, from which 

 $10,000 was set aside for preventing the spread of the 

 brown-tail moth, leaving for the gypsy moth, • • . 190,000 00 



$192,298 94 



