!»> THE GIPSY MOTH. 
might never have been possible. However, in 1898, "in 
seven of the formerly infested towns no gipsy moths were 
found. In five others but one to three small spots were 
found infested, and in these no eggs were found in the fall 
inspection; in the other outer towns comparatively few 
moths were found." (Forbush.) In 1898 the insect had 
spread to but three towns outside those infested in 1890, 
when the work began. The possibility of the practical con- 
trol of the pest was, therefore, thoroughly established. 
From 1900 to 1904 the only effort toward control was by 
local towns and private parties, with but partial success, 
owing to the lack of concerted action. In 1904 the moth 
had increased so enormously that it became evident that 
state aid was again necessary for its control, and the Mas- 
sachusetts legislature of 1905 made an appropriation of 
$150,000 per annum for aiding the towns in the work. Un- 
der this act, a state superintendent appointed by the gov- 
ernor has general oversight of all the work. Upon passage 
of the act, Mr. A. H. Kirkland, formerly assistant ento- 
mologist of the Gipsy Moth Commission and one of the 
foremost economic entomologists of the country, was ap- 
pointed superintendent, and in 1906 the legislature showed 
their confidence in his work by increasing the appropriation 
to $225,000 per annum. Inspections made by his scouts in 
1905 showed that the moth had spread to 120 towns, west 
to Concord, Chelmsford and Sherborn, Mass., and south- 
east to Plymouth, Mass., extending over four times the area 
previously infested. 
At the present time the gipsy moth occurs in Massachu- 
setts along the New Hampshire line from Salisbury west to 
Ashby, which is opposite Mason and New Ipswich, or to the 
western boundary of Hillsborough County, N. H. 
In Other New England States. 
rhode island. 
Mr. A. E. Stene, superintendent of the gipsy moth work 
for Rhode Island, writes: "The territory infested with 
