DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS INSECTS. 71 



views, and that they would be glad of any suggestions for their 

 improvement. The petition and bill were as follows : 



To the Honorable the Senate and the 



House of Representatives, in General Court assembled: 



RespSctfullj^ represents the Dedham Fruit Growers' Association : 



That there is necessit}' for legislation to prevent the undue 

 increase of insects injurious to vegetation, more especially those 

 commonly known as tent caterpillars, canker worms and curculios. 



That the fruit crop, more especially the apple crop, of Massa- 

 chusetts, has greatly decreased of late 3'ears owing to the ravages 

 of these insects, and that, in the absence of any efficient law for 

 their destruction, there is danger that the planting of orchards will 

 be discontinued in the future, owing to the uncertainty of pros- 

 pective returns. 



That the labors of the owners of orchards to destroy these 

 insects are rendered, in a great measure, inoperative, owing to 

 the number of wild cherry and plum trees and worthless apple 

 trees which are allowed to grow along roadsides and in neglected 

 fields, and which are of no value for fuel or otherwise, and only 

 serve to breed noxious insects. 



That also, owing to the neglect of many persons owning orchards 

 to destroy these insects in the proper season, the matured insect 

 infests and peoples the fields and orchards of those who are desir- 

 ous of preserving their fruit and keeping their orchards and 

 grounds in good condition. 



That, especially in eastern Massachusetts, the canker worm is 

 committing great devastation, and is yearly increasing in numbers 

 and progressing westward. 



That without concerted action, which it is impossible to procure 

 without suitable legislation, there is no means of preventing the 

 destruction of the fruit crops, and the immense injury annually 

 done to ornamental trees. 



The said society, therefore, by its officers duly authorized as by 

 vote hereto annexed, would respectfully petition for the enact- 

 ment of such laws to promote the destruction of noxious insects 

 as aforesaid, as to your honorable body shall seem meet and 

 expedient. 



