No. 4.] 



THE GYPSY MOTH. 



387 



Towns and Cities that have been falsely reported as infested by the 

 Gypsy Moth in 1S96. 



The Gypsy Moth as a Forest Pest. 



The gypsy moth has long been known as a destroyer of 

 the foliage of both coniferous and deciduous trees, shrub- 

 bery and foliage plants. Instances are on record where, in 

 European countries, it has not only destroyed the foliage 

 and fruitage, but caused the death of trees. Several cases 

 are cited in the somewhat voluminous report published in 

 1896 by the Board of Agriculture.* This report also gives 

 many instances where trees, shrubs and garden crops in 

 Medford, Mass., were destroyed by the caterpillars of the 

 gypsy moth. It is also stated that vast areas of forest have 

 been infested in Russia and other countries. 



When the Board of Agriculture first began work in the 

 woodlands of the infested district in 1891, many dead and 

 dying trees were found in localities where defoliation had 

 occurred for one or more years. These trees were cut and 

 burned. It was then impossible to determine to a certainty 

 the cause of their death. Since that time there has been no 

 opportunity to observe the efiect of the defoliation of trees 

 for even two successive seasons until 1896. This year the 

 delay in the appropriation allowed the moths to obtain 



* " The Gypsy Moth," E. H. Forbush and C. H. Fernald. Issued by the Massa- 

 chusetts State Board of Agriculture, 1896. 



