350 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P.D.No.4. 



woods must also be promptly cleared of the moth, in order 

 that infestation may not be carried thence again into the 

 cleared areas both of forest and open country. The money 

 which has been thus far expended in the extermination of the 

 gypsy moth has accomplished much by protecting the or- 

 chards, gardens and forests of the infested region, and pre- 

 venting the spread of the moth throughout the State. It has 

 furnished an object lesson to the citizens who would have to 

 deal with the pest should the Commonwealth fail to support 

 the work. But, if extermination should be further delayed 

 by insufficient support, the money already expended will 

 have been thrown away, so far as accomplishing the end 

 in view is concerned, and in all probability the moth will 

 again occupy, not only the region from which it has been 

 cleared, but in due time the entire State also, from which 

 it will doubtless spread over the United States. 



In short, the situation is this : in the outer towns, where 

 extermination has been pushed, it has succeeded ; in the 

 central towns, where, because of insufficient means, sup- 

 pression only could be tried, it has failed. Not only has 

 this enforced policy of mere suppression in the centre re- 

 sulted in failure, but it has also allowed the moth to spread, 

 thus jeopardizing again the outer towns. It is plain that 

 the only way to prevent the spread of the moth is to ex- 

 terminate it from the land. Further appropriations can be 

 justified only by a supreme effort to exterminate. No further 

 progress in extermination in toto is now possible with an 

 appropriation of less than $200,000. With the large num- 

 ber of experienced men now available, even a larger sum 

 could be used to advantao-e in 1898. It would be better to 

 give up the work now than to continue it with insufficient 

 appropriations, for in either case the moth will eventually 

 escape and spread over the country. If Massachusetts has 

 not the energy to crush this potent foe to agriculture and 

 forestry while she now has it in the hollow of her hand, — if 

 she cannot now provide ample appropriations for this pur- 

 pose, — then let not another dollar be expended. 



Respectfully submitted, 



E. H. FORBUSH. 



