No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 395 



The importation of the Calosoma beetle {Calosoma sycophanta) from 

 Europe to destroy the gypsy moth has resulted in much practical and 

 interesting data in regard to the beetle and its habits. It is a pronoimced 

 success. 



The construction and equipment of the laboratory where the work has 

 been carried on has attracted the attention of the scientists all over the 

 world, and in the year 1907 several eminent scientists from this country, 

 Europe, Africa and Australia visited the parasitic laboratory, which was 

 then at Saugus, Mass. None of these men could suggest improvements 

 in the methods used, but they all found many to admire and some to 

 copy in their owti countries where similar hues of investigation were 

 being inaugurated. 



Much experimenting has been carried on, also, with the fungous disease 

 of the brown-tail moth and with the so-called wilt disease, or "flacherie," 

 which attacks and destroys the gypsy moth to a large extent. 



The development of spraying machines and insecticides makes one of 

 the most striking and important chapters in the history of the moth- 

 suppression campaign. The necessity for an insecticide possessing supe- 

 rior adhesive quahties, at the same time containing sufficient poisonous 

 properties to destroy the caterpillars, was early recognized. Spraying 

 with common arsenical poisons, such as Paris green, London purple, etc., 

 had been in use for many years, but with indifferent success. When it 

 became evident that these insecticides were not accomplishing the work 

 desired, an effort was made to discover a more effective poison, and much 

 time and labor were spent in this undertaking. Some of the best chemists 

 obtainable were employed by the State and put on this experimental 

 work, which resulted in the production of arsenate of lead. 



This work was carried on in the year 1893. Since then the use of this 

 material has increased by leaps and bounds, until at the present time the 

 manufacturers of this article are shipping it to all parts of the world. 

 Thus to Massachusetts moth work the agricultural world owes an ever- 

 lasting debt of gratitude for her persistent and successful endeavors along 

 this line. The results of the untiring efforts of the Massachusetts Forestry 

 Department in developing improved spraying machines, hose couplings, 

 nozzles and other apparatus of this nature have completely revolution- 

 ized this industry, and present a record of accomplishment in this line 

 never before equalled. 



By improved machinery in spraying we are now able to spray wood- 

 lands at about $6 an acre, while formerly the expense was S40 or more. 

 The work, as well, is far more thoroughly done. While this improved 

 spraying machinery is highly appreciated in the moth-infested country of 

 New England at present, it will take time for others to recognize its 

 merits, until the use of similar machines is demanded elsewhere. When 

 the elm-leaf beetle and similar insects and diseases begin affecting tall 

 trees elsewhere, which is inevitable in the future, then I am confident 

 the results of our Massachusetts inventions will be appreciated. Already 



