No. 4.] THE GYPSY MOTH. 259 



Entomologist's Keport. 



To the Committee on the Gijpsy Moth. 



Gentlemen: — During tho past season I have made fre- 

 quent visits to the territory infested with the gypsy moth, 

 and inspected the work with the greatest care. I have in- 

 variably found the work carried on in the most thorough 

 manner, and in accordance with the most approved methods. 

 I have been entirely satisfied with the progress of the work, 

 and believe that all has been done that it was possible to 

 accomplish with the appropriation made by the last Legislat- 

 ure. The citizens cf this Commonwealth must not expect 

 this insect pest to be exterminated if the Legislature con- 

 tinues to cut down the appropriation asked for more than 

 one-third, as was done by the last two Legislatures, but 

 must place the responsibility for any lack of success where 

 it properly belongs. 



There are some who believe that this insect can never be 

 exterminated, but that the best thing to be done is to make 

 a moderate annual appropriation to hold it in check, which 

 means a perpetual warfare and a perpetual expense. Those 

 who have been most familiar with the work from the first, 

 and have carefully observed its progress in the various in- 

 fested towns, are positive in their convictions that it is not 

 only possible but feasible to exterminate the gypsy moth in 

 the region known to be infested, in a term of years, if suffi- 

 cient annual appropriations be niade for this purpose. The 

 sum total of these appropriations for the term of years re- 

 quired may seem large ; but, when compared with the sum 

 total of a perpetual annual appropriation sufficient to hold 

 this insect in check, it sinks into utter insignificance. 



It will undoubtedly be a stupendous undertaking to 

 exterminate this pest, and will cost much more in the end 



