202 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



on Capo Cod. This area embraces about 2,500 square miles, 

 — over one-quarter of the total area of the State, — and con- 

 tains within its limits upward of 75 per cent of the taxable 

 valuation of the State. The broAvn-tail moth is known to 

 occur in a section which may be roughly included in a line 

 drawn from Winchendon on the northwest to the Rhode 

 Island border at Wrentham, and thence southerly to West- 

 port. The latter insect is spreading rapidly throughout the 

 State. 



At the hearins^s before the Legislature with reference to 

 additional ap})ropriations for use under the du-ection of the 

 State superintendent, yoiu* connnittee was represented b}^ its 

 secretary, who fully explained the desires of the connnittee 

 and the Board that this work should be prosecuted vigor- 

 ously, and should not be ham})ered for lack of funds. We 

 have also used every possible means at our disposal to 

 induce Congress to make liljcral api)ropriations for suppress- 

 ing the insects, and we have had much correspondence with 

 the various Boards of Agriculture and members of Congress 

 in the New England States and elsewhere. 



The policy of the State superintendent, which has met 

 with our hearty approval, has been to first clear the infested 

 street trees of the moths, in order to prevent their further 

 scattering ; and, second, to free, so far as possible, the badly 

 infested residential districts, thus o:ivinoj the laroest measure 

 of relief to the greatest numljcr of inhabitants. As a result 

 of this work, the streets of the infested district have been 

 kept reasonably clear of the moths, and last year for the 

 first time the majority of our suburban estates were protected 

 from damage hy these insects. We are obliged to note with 

 regret, however, that the woodlands still remain very severely 

 infested, and that this infestation seems to be on the increase. 

 This we do not understand is due to any fault of the present 

 State organization now engaged in suppressing the moth, but 

 rather to laek of funds necessary to protect these lands and 

 control the gypsy moth within their l)orders. It is earnestly 

 to be hoped that suitable a})pro})riations will be provided to 

 stop the increasing ravages of the moth in our eastern Mas- 

 sachusetts woodlands. 



