246 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



mittee asked for its first appropriation in 1891, it was under- 

 stood that the area occupied was possibly twenty-five square 

 miles. In December, 1891, the creatures had been found 

 scattered over an area of two hundred square miles, and it is 

 not improbable that isolated colonies may yet be found out- 

 side of this limit. I do not wish to be understood as statino: 

 that the insects have spread since the beginning of our 

 work, but that our search has resulted in finding them in the 

 places which they had previously reached, and has stopped 

 their dispersion wherever v»'e have found them. But it nnist 

 be evident to all that the amount of money that was deemed 

 sufficient to exterminate them within an area of ten or twenty 

 square miles is not sufficient to do more than reduce their 

 numbers and hold them in check when used over an area of 

 two hundred square miles. In consequence of this state 

 of things, we have been unable to finish the work over a 

 large area, as the men have been called from one locality to 

 another by the exigencies of the case. If extermination is to 

 be attempted, no such partial policy as this will ever suc- 

 ceed, and, if it is onl}^ intended to control the insects, that 

 can now l)e accom})lished at a less expense. 



We have been advised to destroy them in the outer row 

 of towns first, and then move in toward the centre ; but, 

 although this })lan looks very well on paper, it is impracti- 

 cable, as, if they are allowed to increase in the centre, they 

 will spread to such an extent that they will soon be outside 

 the line that has been drawn around them. Their increase 

 must be stopped in the centre at all hazards, to prevent their 

 s[)reading. 



In conclusion, I will say that nothing like certain extermi- 

 nation is promised by any plan which may be proposed 

 except the following : Means enough nuist be forthcoming 

 to secure an adequate number of trustworthy men, such as 

 arc fitted by nature for the work. These men must be 

 selected and trained. Each nuist have a certain section 

 allotted him, for which lu; nuist l)e held responsible. Each 

 man who fills all the requirements nuist l)e retained, if pos- 

 sible, for a series of years, on the same ground ; he must 

 have all the assistance he needs during the time the cater})il- 

 lars are moving, that he may prevent their dissemination. 



