xviii BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. [Pul). Doc. 



Also $100,000 was appropriated to be used in the exter- 

 mination of the gypsy moth. An appropriation of $200,000 

 for this worlv has been asked of the Legislature of 1897. 



Nails tor marking Trees. 



The appropriation for this object was the usual $200, and 

 there were expended during the year the following sums : — 



266 pounds M spikes, 2| and 2^ inches, . . $15 96 

 1,152 pounds galvanized washers, . . . 116 88 

 Cartage, 50 



$133 34 



Spikes and washers were supplied during the year to the 

 towns of Athol, Hubbardston, Littleton, Milton, Phillipston 

 and Winchendon. Since the work of supplying these spikes 

 was begun, Dec. 26, 1891, 3 cities and 53 towns have 

 availed themselves of the provisions of the act. In all there 

 have been furnished 7,151 three and one-fourth inch spikes, 

 66,135 two and three-fourths inch spikes, and 55,533 two 

 and one-fourth inch spikes, making a total of 128,819. 



Abandoned Farms. 



The granting by the Legislature of 1896 of an appropria- 

 tion of $1,000 having made possible the doing of more work 

 along this line, plans were duly made for a new edition of 

 the catalogue of descriptions ; and it was decided to issue a 

 circular letter to the assessors of each city and town, similar 

 to the letter used in 1891. It was further decided to ask for 

 the assessors' valuation of each farm reported by them, and 

 also to send a special circular to the assessors, asking for 

 information concerning farms advertised in the catalogue and 

 reported as " sold." In order to send a copy of tlie descrip- 

 tive catalogue with the above-mentioned circular letters, it 

 was found necessary to have more printed. Accordingly, in 

 April 1,000 copies of a supplement to the fifth edition were 

 printed. Seventeen new descriptions were added as an 

 addenda, making the total of descriptions printed 560. 



The effort to secure new descriptions resulted in the 

 receipt of 61, which were incorporated in the new catalogue 



