94 



these clusters apparently being over 3 or 4 years old, thus showing 

 that there are man}' centers of infestation. 



It was most unfortunate that the work against the moth in Massa- 

 chusetts incurred the enmity of a large number of discharged 

 emi)loyees. It was well known to them that the finding of the moth 

 outside of Massachusetts probabh' would cause the State to abandon 

 the work of extermination. When the matter of continuing the work 

 was being discussed in the legislature in 1899, a persistent rumor was 

 in circulation to the effect that the moth had been " jDlanted " in Rhode 

 Island. Efforts to trace these rumors to their source were not very 

 successful, all the available clues being followed up without tangible 

 results. While the occurrence of the moth in Providence may be due 

 to some well-known means of distribution, in the absence of facts 

 showing this to be the case it is hard to avoid the belief that the moth 

 may have been deliberately carried to that city. 



The Providence city authorities have acted with commendable 

 promptness in the matter, and under the direction of Mr. Southwick 

 competent men are at work destroying the egg clusters with creosote 

 oil. It is earnestl}' hoped that the fight against the insect will be con- 

 tinued in order that its future spread may be prevented. 



In Massachusetts the gypsy moth has spread unchecked since the 

 cessation of the State work against it, Februarj' 1, 1900. To those 

 who had tried to make this work a success it was gratifying to note 

 that in 1900 practically no damage by the moth occurred throughout 

 the whole infested district. The former infestations had been so 

 severely dealt with that comparativel}' few scattered insects remained. 

 In some of the larger infestations, particularly' in the central towns, 

 there were enough moths to serve as nuclei for colonies, and the 

 present year in restricted localities numbers of trees have been defoli- 

 ated. The season has been favorable to the increase of the moth, and 

 at the present date (August 15) formidable numbers of the egg clus- 

 ters may be seen in all of the central towns of the infested district. 

 It seems probable that in a few j^ears the insect, if unmolested, will 

 be sufiiciently abundant to rejDeat the widespread damage caused in 

 1888-1890. 



Alreadj' there are indications that public sentiment is becoming 

 more favorably" disposed toward the past work of the gyps}' moth 

 committee. Without doubt in a few years the increase and activitj' 

 of the moth will again make necessarj'some organized effort to reduce 

 its numbers. 



While the cessation of the work against the gypsy moth seemed 

 unwise, and was a great disappointment to those familiar with it, yet it 

 is fortunate that out of this work liave come accurate and effective 

 methods of dealing with the pest when it again appears in force. The 

 value of these methods is well illustrated in the ease of the Provi- 

 dence infestation. Within a dav after the colonv was discovered a 



