No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. xxix 



of infested trees. One or more leaves are surrounded with 

 a silken web, which draws the leaves together, forming a nest. 

 The nests are readily seen during the late autumn and win- 

 ter, and should l)e taken off and burned. As large a sum as 

 could possibly be spared from the appropriation for inci- 

 dental expenses of the Board of Agriculture was used in 

 paying a competent inspector to examine the infested terri- 

 tory, and give written notice to owners or managers of in- 

 fested estates that the brown-tail moth was present on the 

 })remises. At the same time a copy of the before-mentioned 

 bulletin, which contained a copy of the law, was left with 

 the owner or manager. One hundred and seventy-two dol- 

 lars and sixty-six cents was expended in this manner, in 

 addition to the one hundred dollars paid for bulletins noted 

 above. Fourteen hundred and eleven estates in Somerville, 

 355 in Cambridge, 149 in Medford, 92 in Maiden, 72 in 

 Everett, 31 in Melrose, 31 in Stoneham, 29 in Arlington, 

 21 in Winchester, 19 in Woburn, 7 in Charlestown, 3 in Bel- 

 mont, 3 in Burlington, 2 in Saugus and 1 in Revere, were 

 found infested, and notice given and printed directions left 

 with the owners or managers of these estates. 



This inspection is far from complete in all of these munic- 

 ipalities, but has covered as large a part of the infested 

 territory as the means at command would pay for. The 

 authorities of all these municipalities have been notified of 

 the presence of the moth, and a list of the estates found in- 

 fested in their city or town furnished them, with the state- 

 ment that the inspection was necessarily incomplete, and that 

 many other estates as well as street and park trees and 

 shrubbery are undoubtedly infested. Some of the owners 

 of estates have made commendable effort to rid their prop- 

 erty of the pest, while others have done nothing. I have 

 been informed that the authorities of the cities of Cambridge, 

 Everett, Maiden and Somerville are making plans to perform 

 the duties placed u.pon them by the law of last winter. It is 

 hoped that the other cities and towns may do likewise. 



It will be impossible for the Board of Agriculture to fulfil 

 its duties under the law in future unless the Legislature pro- 

 vides the means. Steps have been taken to bring the matter 

 to the attention of the proper committee of the Legislature. 



