INTRODUCTORY. 



This bulletin is published by the State Forester in order that 

 any of our citizens interested may have a definite and compre- 

 hensive knowledge of the work that the State of Massachusetts 

 is doing in importing parasites and predatory enemies of the 

 gypsy and brown-tail moths. 



I am sure this bulletin will meet a cordial reception by many 

 of our people, as it explains the various points often so difficult 

 to propound in the short time at one's command. 



The time has come when we should have a better practical 

 working knowledge of the future care of our trees. We must 

 look upon these moth depredations and their ultimate control 

 in a rational manner. When forest fires are burning, we do 

 not hesitate to put them out, realizing their great destructiveness 

 if allowed to run at will. The enormous damage that these 

 moths have done in eastern Massachusetts is appreciated only 

 by those who have lived in the infested districts. We propose 

 to have many strings to our bow in fighting these moths. The 

 work of introducing parasites, thought by scientists to be of 

 great promise, was begun in 1905 and has been vigorously pur- 

 sued ever since. It has not been by any means an easy matter 

 to secure them in sufficient quantities, and get them established 

 in this country in large enough numbers, to secure the desired 

 results. Each year, however, has improved on the past, until 

 at present very effective work is in progress. More material 

 was secured last year than during the whole time previously, 

 and the coming year is even more promising. The gypsy moth 

 itself was here a number of years before it became sufficiently 

 abundant to be considered a pest. If it took the gypsy moth 

 many years to get established, with all favorable conditions ap- 

 parently at its bidding, we must not get over-impatient awaiting 

 the results which are hoped for in the introduction of its natural 

 enemies. This work, as this bulletin explains, is in better con- 



