388 BOARD OF AGEICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



sufficient headway in some woodlands, which were defoliated 

 in 1895, so that the trees were again stripped in 189G. 



So far as observed, all pines which have been defoli-ated 

 for even one year have died, and some which have not been 

 entirely defoliated are dying. Where oaks have been de- 

 foliated two years in succession, a large proportion of them 

 are now either dead or dying. In one locality in the large 

 forest park, controlled by the Lynn municipality, and known 

 as the "Lynn woods," where a small area of young trees, 

 mostly oaks, was stripped in 1896, many of them are either 

 dead or dying. In several localities in Saugus, where the 

 trees have been stripped for two years in succession, we find 

 the same condition. There are several other localities where 

 trees appear to have been killed by total defoliation one 

 season and partial defoliation the next. One of these where 

 the greatest injury was done was in the Lexington woods. 

 Thus we have demonstrated the fact, which has been hitherto 

 denied by some, that defoliation by Lepidopterous insects 

 may weaken and destroy deciduous trees. 



The trees appear to die from the tops. The defoliated 

 limbs apparently sufi^er from sun-lmin or sun-scald, and this 

 condition is closely followed by the attacks of bark borers, 

 jScoIytidce, which still further weaken the tree. It is well 

 known that these insects frequently follow the leaf-eaters, 

 and they soon complete the destruction of the tree. 



Judging by the foregoing observations, the danger to our 

 forest and park reservations appears to be great. Should 

 the insect be allowed to increase and spread, the great cost 

 of protecting the forest growth would preclude any effort in 

 that direction by the great majority of land owners. 



Unless the work of destroying the eggs of the moth in 

 the woodlands of Medford, Saugus and other towns is 

 promptly provided for, much serious injur}^ may be done, 

 especially in the Middlesex Fells reservation, during the 

 coming year. 



Methods used in Forest Work. 



It is not extremely difficult to exterminate the gypsy moth 

 from shade or fruit trees or from open or cultivated lands. 

 Althousrh the danijer of a distribution of the moth to a dis- 



