THE WORK OF 1891. 45 



THE WORK OF 1891. 



Appointment of the Second Commission. 

 Governor Russell, having removed on Feb. 15, 1891, the 

 salaried commission for the extermination of the gypsy moth, 

 appointed another commission which organized as follows : 

 Prof. N. S. Shaler of Harvard University, chairman, Francis 

 H. Appleton of Peabody, secretary, both members of the 

 State Board of Agriculture, and Hon. Wm. R. Sessions, 

 secretary of that Board. These gentlemen served without 

 remuneration, accepting office with the understanding that 

 legislation would be asked for with reference to placing the 

 work under the control of the State Board of Agriculture, 

 where they believed it properly belonged. The new com- 

 missioners, having received information of their appoint- 

 ment by the governor, lost no time in obtaining information 

 from the best authorities in regard to the possibility of ex- 

 terminating the moth and the best methods of procedure. 

 They received their commission on March 4, and the same 

 day held a conference at the office of the State Board of Ag- 

 riculture, with several eminent entomologists. Many promi- 

 nent men from the towns in the region infested by the gypsy 

 moth were also invited to attend. Among those present were 

 Professor Riley, entomologist of the United States Depart- 

 ment -of Agriculture, Professor Fernald, entomologist of the 

 Hatch Experiment Station and of the Board of Agriculture, 

 Mr. Samuel Scudder of Cambridge, Mayor Wiggin of Maiden, 

 Chairman L. S. Gould of the selectmen of Melrose, Select- 

 man W. C. Craig of Medford and W. A. Pierce of Arling- 

 ton. The prevailing opinion of the entomologists was that 

 recourse must be had to spraying with some of the arsenites 

 in order to bring about the extermination of the moth. (See 

 Appendix A for a report of the conference.) 



Preliminary Arrangements. 



On March 12 the commissioners invited the members of 

 the first commission to a consultation at the office of the 

 State Board of Agriculture. Ex-Commissioners Rawson and 



