48 FIELD WORK AGAINST GIPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. 



high-power sprayers, so that a large area of territory can be covered 

 in the short time that the insect is in the larval stage. 



In 1909 over 150 high-power and 250 hand spraying outfits were 

 used in the infested district in Massachusetts. 



Unfortunately many of the less valuable woodland sections have 

 received little attention, owing to the pressure of more important 

 work. This results each year in large areas being stripped by the 

 caterpillars, great numbers of which die from starvation and disease, 

 and in this way the infestation for the next year or so is materially 

 decreased. Fortunately these badly infested areas are more or less 

 isolated, as strong effort is made to care for the woodland section 

 that is near roads or lines of travel, so that the danger of spread of 

 the insects from these centers of infestation is reduced as much as 

 possible. 



It has been impossible, however, up to the present time, owing to the 

 excessive cost, to do all of such work that could be done to advantage. 

 As the residential areas become freer from the insects more funds can 

 doubtless be devoted to this much-needed work. 



In addition to the work already outlined a large amount of scouting 

 has been carried on under the direction of the central office and at 

 state expense. This has been done by skilled and experienced men 

 in the towns outside the known infested territory. All the main 

 roads and orchards have been examined in a section several towns 

 deep around the infested area. 



Some of the more important and much traveled state roads have 

 been scouted for long distances and this work in 1907 and 1908 

 resulted in the discovery, near Springfield and Greenfield, Mass., of 

 small colonies of the gipsy moth. 



The infestation near Springfield was located near the state road, 

 which is a favorite route for automobiles between Boston and New 

 York City. The outlying colonies discovered in this way have been 

 treated with special care and many of them have been reduced 

 almost to the point of extermination. 



The area infested at the present time in Massachusetts is somewhat 

 larger than that which was found in 1905 when the first scouting 

 operations were begun after the work was resumed by the State. 

 This is what would naturally be expected, as it was at that time 

 impossible to undertake scouting operations over such a large terri- 

 tory with the small force of trained men available. 



Doubtless many of the colonies since found developed from cater- 

 pillars scattered during the time the moth was allowed to spread 

 without restriction, and more colonies will probably be found in the 

 outside territory. Further scouting should be taken up so that 

 these may be discovered at the earliest possible moment and promptly 

 treated. 



