2i^Q BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



We estimate that there are 1,500 rods of field wall that should 

 be taken dowu, cleaned of eggs, and rebuilt at a cost of $1.40 per 

 rod, or a total of $2,100. There are also some heavy walls, 

 built of small stones, and some thick bank walls which may be 

 treated by burning all vegetation near them, so as to compel the 

 caterpillars to crawl away from them for food, when they may be 

 caught by burlapping the trees, and thus destroyed. 



In any case, enough money should be provided for thoroughly in- 

 specting all the territory of the thirty infested towns and cities, and 

 the towns immediately surrounding those in which the moths have 

 already been discovered. There should also be pi'ovided abundant 

 means to burlap all the trees in the thickly infested region, and 

 those in the vicinity of colonies of the moths that have been found 

 in the outer towns that are not so thoroughly infested, and also to 

 employ during the five months of the caterpillar season a sufficient 

 force of men to examine the burlaps and kill the caterpillars once 

 each day. To do this we estimate that at least one hundred 

 experienced men should be permanently employed throughout the 

 year, at an average of $2.35 per day, or a total cost of $72,615. 

 "We should also have during the caterpillar . season of five months 

 (one hundred and thirty days) at least two hundred and ninety 

 men, at an average of $2.15 per day, or a total cost of $81,055. 

 The bills for supplies, rent and expenses would amount to about 

 $10,000. So by this plan we would need : — 



For one hundred experienced men throughout the year, . $72,615 00 



For three hundred men for five months, .... 81,055 00 



For taking down, cleaning of eggs and rebuilding walls, . 2,100 00 



For supplies and other expenses, 10,000 00 



Total, $165,770 00 



The committee voted, at a meeting held in December, to ask for 

 an appropriation of $150,000. At that time a careful estimate 

 had not been made, but it is required by law that estimates of 

 needed appropriations be sent to the auditor on or before December 

 15. From a very thorough consideration of the matter, the above 

 is as small a sum as we can recommend to be appropriated. 



The subjoined report of the consulting entomologist and the 

 director of field work will show that the labor of the last year has 



