266 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



In addition to the inspections made, G23 permits were issued to 

 allow the shipment of material of this sort which originated out- 

 side the quarantined areas but was offered for shipment inside the 

 areas. 



Present condition of the areas infested w^ith the gipsy moth 

 AND THE BROWN-TAIL MOTH. The winter of 1917-18 was the most 

 severe that ha^ been experienced in New England for many years. 

 Not only Avas the temperature abnormally low, but the snowfall was 

 exceedingly heavy, except along the coast. These conditions were 

 partly responsible for the failure of many gipsy moth eggs to hatch 

 in the spring. 



In the summer of 1918 serious defoliation by the gipsy moth 

 existed in the Cape Cod region in Massachusetts, but small defoliated 

 areas could be found in many other sections. Advantage was taken 

 of this condition in planning the field work in the summer and fall 

 of 1918, and, by taking advantage of the reduction in infestation in 

 many localities, it was possible to clear many colonies. 



The winter of 1918-19 was exceedingly mild and gipsy moth eggs 

 survived and a very large proportion hatched. 



Some of the parasites, particularly Schedius, which destroys gipsy 

 moth eggs in the fall, Avere not nearly as numerous this year as here- 

 tofore, and the other introduced parasites do not appear to have 

 fully recovered f rpm the setback received during the previous winter. 

 The wilt disease was also less abundant and effective this year than 

 usual. As a result of these conditions heavy feeding by the gipsy 

 moth has appeared over the greater part of the infested area in 

 eastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire. 



The present indications are that stripping will be more severe 

 next summer, and if weather conditions are favorable for the spread 

 of the small caterpillars by the wind next spring it will not be sur- 

 prising if some of the recently cleared border towns become rein- 

 vested. The gipsy-moth problem is therefore more difficult than 

 usual and the most strenuous measures will be necessary in order to 

 hold the insect within the territory now infested until the parasites 

 and diseases have become more numerous and effective in the worst 

 infested regions. 



The brown-tail moth appears to be on the increase in the eastern 

 part of the territory, although special efforts were made by the State 

 officials to clean up isolated infestations in the spring of 1919. Unless 

 all colonies of this insect are thoroughly treated it is likely to increase 

 its range. 



EXTENSION AND DEMONSTRATION WORK. 



This work w^as instituted under the provisions of the first food- 

 production act and continued during the fiscal year under funds 

 made available to this bureau under the second food-production act. 

 Mr. J. A. Hyslop has been in charge of this work from its institution 

 to its final termination on June 30, when the war activities of the 

 department were closed. 



During the past fiscal year 4 additional States entered into project 

 agreements with the Bureau of Entomology, making a total of 37 

 States cooperating with the bureau in teaching entomology in the 



