36 



GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. [Jan. 



have large holdings, and ask their co-operation, thus increasing 

 the amount of money with which to work. Some of the munici- 

 palities that are severely infested are not fortunate enough to 

 have wealthy land owners, and here the hurden of the expense 

 falls almost entirely upon the city or town and the State, and 

 only a limited amount of work can be done each year, and only 

 the most important sections can receive treatment. The work 

 now needed most is in the woodlands in towns of low valuation, 

 where but a very small amount can be ch^ged to the ovmer. In 

 several places the owners of large tracts of timber land are awak- 

 ening to the danger which confronts them, and are clearing their 

 lands, that they may derive what revenue they can from the 

 timber before it is too late. 



In the generally infested sections excellent results are being 

 accomplished, and the cities and towns in this class seem to 

 realize that the work must be prosecuted vigorously, in order 

 that they may not become seriously infested. The residential 

 sections are receiving very thorough treatment each year, and 

 the woodlands are being scouted to protect them from serious 

 colonies. This is somewhat expensive treatment, but it is best 

 in the end. We can safely say that the generally infested cities 

 and towns are making headway in their fight against the gypsy 

 moths, and that no serious damage has as yet developed. Extra 

 precaution is taken during the caterpillar season by tangle- 

 footing and burlapping the trees, and spraying in the worst- 

 infested places. The burlaps are watched during the summer 

 season, and the number of caterpillars have been decreased. 

 Some property ovmers in the generally infested towns are hav- 

 ing their woodlands thinned so that they can be cared for eco- 

 nomically, and also so that the remaining trees may have a better 

 chance to grow. In some localities, where roadside thinning was 

 thought advisable, it was opposed on the ground that the natural 

 beauty of the roads would be destroyed. However, when it was 

 found that only a short time was required for a new growth of 

 shrubbery, this opposition was withdrawn. In several woodland 

 colonies, where thinning was necessary, there was opposition on 

 the part of the owner ; but after the work was performed, and the 

 thinning was found to be done scientifically, the work obtained 

 approval. Many of the cities and towns that are generally in- 



