WOKK IN THE STATE OP RHODE ISLAND. 55 



destroy the insect during the following two years. In 1906, the year 

 after the state work was begun in Massachusetts, a law was enacted in 

 Rhode Island providing for control measures against the gipsy moth. 

 An appropriation of $5,100 was made. This was inadequate for the 

 work, but by means of a cooperative arrangement between the state 

 superintendent, Prof. A. E. Stene, and the Bureau of Entomology it 

 was possible to carry on a vigorous campaign. The original infesta- 

 tion was confined almost entirely to residential property, and at the 

 present time very little woodland in the State of Rhode Island is 

 known to be infested. 



Infestations have been found in 1 1 towns in the northeastern part 

 of the State, extending from the Massachusetts line and including one 

 tier of towns west of the city of Providence. The work which has 

 been done has resulted in the extermination of a large number of 

 small colonies, and those localities in which the moth is now present 

 are of limited extent and are being given careful attention. In 

 many cases the caterpillars or egg clusters were found in brush and 

 undergrowth growing on dumps or unimproved building lots and 

 much work has been required to clean up infestations of this 

 character. 



Since the work began practically all of the State has been scouted 

 except the towns north of Westerly along the Connecticut line. 



In 1907, $10,000, in 1908, $10,000, and in 1909, $8,000, was appro- 

 priated for moth work, and with the help which has been furnished 

 by the Bureau of Entomology great progress has been made. Each 

 year all the trees in the infested area have been carefully examined 

 and fences, buildings, and shrubbery thoroughly inspected for egg 

 clusters. In order to check up the work two experts have gone over 

 the territory after the regular workmen in order to ascertain if any 

 egg clusters had been missed. 



During the summer of 1909 about 150,000 trees were burlapped in 

 Providence and surrounding towns. These were visited twice a week 

 during the caterpillar season, and all the insects found were crushed 

 by the workmen. The cavities in a large number of trees in the 

 infested section have been filled with cement or covered with zinc so 

 that work can be more thoroughly done. In order to show the prog- 

 ress which has been made in Rhode Island, it should be stated that 

 during the winter of 1906-7 nearly 80,000 egg clusters were found 

 and destroyed. During the following winter, 1907-8, only 7,500 egg 

 clusters could be found, and in the winter 1908-9 but 1,700 were dis- 

 covered and treated. It is believed that the moth has been extermi- 

 nated in 4 of the 11 towns which were infested. The entire territory 

 in this State is in excellent condition, and very little injury now 

 results to the trees, as the insect is present only in small numbers. 

 With persistent work for a number of years it should be possible 



