THE GVrSY MUTII. 97 



The infested points are indicated upon the map (Figure 

 1 ) . It is interesting to note that practically all of the infes- 

 tations were on apple trees. In all cases the egg masses 

 were immediately creosoted, so that the pest is probably 

 exterminated over all the immediate territory actually exam- 

 ined, all trees bein^,: examined for 200 feet back from the 

 roads, though an inspection next year will be necessary to 

 determine that no scattered eggs may have developed. The 

 Cities of Exeter and Nashua were also thoroughly in- 

 spected, but no trace of gypsy moth was found. It might 

 be thought possible that any of the territory within the same 

 radius from the worst districts in Massachusetts as Ports- 

 mouth might be found infested, but this is hardly probable. 

 The summer travel along the coast much exceeds that up 

 the Merrimack Valley or toward Exeter. Indeed, in Massa- 

 chusetts the spread has been much faster to the northeast 

 and the pest has not been found in Lowell. It seems fairly 

 safe to conclude, therefore, that infestation in New Hamp- 

 shire is probably confined to Rockingham County east of 

 the Western Division of the Boston & Maine Railroad. It 

 is of the utmost importance that the towns in this district 

 which have not been inspected be examined, including 

 Atkinson, Hampstead, Newton, South Hampton, Kingston, 

 Newington and also Dover and Rochester in Strafford 

 County, as the latter are on the route of automobile travel 

 to the mountains. 



FOOD PLANTS AND INJURY CAUSED. 



"The gypsy moth caterpillar will attack all fruit, shade 

 and woodland trees. It shows a preference for the apple, 

 white oak, red oak, willow and elm. It will devour on 

 occasion nearly every useful grass, plant, flower, shrub, vine, 

 bush, garden or field crop that grows in Massachusetts (or 

 New Hampshire). 



"The caterpillar kills both deciduous (or hard- wood) and 

 coniferous (soft-wood or evergreen) trees. Woodlands 

 assailed by it in formidable numbers are stripped bare, as 



