A BUTTERFLY. 31 



country, and the Legislature voted one hundred 

 thousand dollars to carry on the war. During 

 1892 and 1893 the committee in charge of the 

 work asked for much more than they received. 

 In 1894 one hundred thousand was again voted* 

 Then it was considered of national importance, 

 and Congress was petitioned to come to the 

 aid from the National Treasury, and forty thou- 

 sand dollars was voted. In 1895 Massachusetts 

 voted one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for 

 that year, and three hundred men were constantly 

 in the fight with these caterpillars, eggs, and 

 moths. Since that date the sum has increased, 

 and now the Legislature is petitioned for about 

 five hundred thousand dollars to be expended in 

 the expectation that this pest may be got under 

 so it may be kept there for a few thousand a year. 

 I tell this story to show how easy it is for 

 even a single species of insect to destroy all 

 crops. It is only by the help of birds and other 

 insects that destroy their eggs and caterpillars 

 that man is able to live on this earth. If the 

 gypsy moth had not been opposed wholesale 

 there would not be a living orchard or green bit 

 of woodland in New England to-day, and it 

 would be useless to plant a crop. 



