236 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



WORK OF THE GYPSY MOTH COMMITTEE. 



BY E. H. FORBUSII, DIRECTOR OF FIELD WORK. 



For centuries crusades have been carried on in European 

 countries against certain species of animals harmful to agri- 

 culture. In early times kings required annually, as a part 

 of the taxes from each land holder, a stated number of heads 

 of animals whose destruction was considered desirable. 



In this country inducements in the shape of cash bounties 

 have been offered by many States for the heads, hides or 

 scalps of rapacious mammals, and for the heads of birds suj)- 

 posed to be injurious. I am not aware, however, that any 

 attempt has ever before been made by a State government 

 to eradicate an insect pest which had obtained a foothold by 

 a twenty years' residence. Neither am I aware that such a 

 task has ever before been delegated by a legislative body to 

 a State department, and yet this plan seems the only one 

 which promises success. It leaves those in charge of the 

 work unhampered by personal or political considerations in 

 their choice of men and means, and demonstrates the Avisdom 

 displayed by the Executive and Legislature of Massachusetts 

 in placing such a work in the hands of the State Board of 

 Agriculture. The Board has wisely chosen men of ability 

 and foresight as a committee to have charge of the work, 

 and the committee has selected as entomological adviser a 

 man whose eminent scientific qualifications are eijualled only 

 by his j)ractical experience and knowledge of affairs. It 

 must be granted, then, that the undertaking was begun under 

 the most favorable auspices. But I am here to speak of its 

 progress, and the prospects of ult imate success. 



Money enough has been appropriated by the Legislature 

 the past two seasons to provide for an inspection of the 



