38 GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. [Jan. 



WoEK OF Other State Boards, etc. 



We wisli again to acknowledge the help given in our work by 

 other State boards and commissions,, by State institutions and 

 private corporations. 



Particularly effective and helpful has been the work of 

 the Metropolitan Park Commission, Massachusetts Highway 

 Commission, Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board, Massa- 

 chusetts Board of Insanity, Massachusetts School for Feeble- 

 minded, and the McLean Asylum. We append herewith 

 reports from some of these boards. 



Metropolitan Pake Commission, 

 Congregational House, 14 Beacon Street, Boston, Jan. 16, 1909. 



Mr. L. H. WOETHLBT, Acting Superintendent, 6 Beacon Street, Boston, 



Mass. 



Dear Sir : — The Metropolitan Park Commission has no special re- 

 port to make in regard to the work against gypsy and brown-tail moths 

 in 1908. The work has proceeded upon the same general lines as in 

 previous years, and has proved very successful. Spraying by large 

 power machines was tried over considerable areas, with very good re- 

 sults. The work now seems to have advanced to a point where spraying 

 can be relied upon to a much larger extent than heretofore. A conse- 

 quent reduction in expense over the same areas may be expected. The 

 general expense, however, will not be reduced, because of the increase 

 along the outside lands on the southerly borders of Blue Hills, and 

 because of the sudden coming back of the brown-tail moths and the 

 invasion of elm-tree beetles. The general condition of the work, how- 

 ever, is satisfactory, and an advance over previous years. 



Very truly yours, W. B. de las Casas, 



Chairman. 



Work done on State Highways. 

 As in the year 1907, we were again requested by the Massa- 

 chusetts Highway Commission to take full charge of the work 

 during the year 1908. The work was carried on along prac- 

 tically the same lines, and a considerable amount of thinning 

 was done. As the spring opened, it became apparent that ex- 

 tensive spraying^ operations would be necessary to keep the 

 gypsy moth in check, and also prevent damage from the elm- 

 leaf beetle, an insect pest which was very prevalent during the 

 summer months. Nearly all sections of the State highway 



