61 



their best judgment and advice. I certainly advised as it seemed best 

 to me, and, as it proved, my advice coincided witli that ^iven by Pro- 

 fessor Kiley. 



The committee then appointed Mr. Forbush as field director. The 

 committee was advised to import parasites. I was then called from 

 Cape Cod to go over the ground and make a critical examination and 

 advise in regard to the matter. After making a close study and find- 

 ing that our native parasites were at work on the insect it seemed to 

 me that it would be wise to wait a little before attempting to import 

 others, as there seemed to be a danger that secondary parasites might 

 be imported with theimmary ones and thus undo all that we attemi)ted. 

 My advice was taken in that case, whether rightly or wrongly remains 

 to be seen. I was then asked to act as entomologist, and in an unhappy 

 moment I consented, and, although I have since resigned, the committee 

 has declined to accept my resignation and I still hold that position. I 

 was at first prone to judge of this foreign insect by the habits of our 

 home insects, and I am not sure but that Professor Kiley and 1 both 

 had the same inclination. 



I have been studying the habits of this insect from that time until 

 now, and have not finished yet. We find out something new and 

 striking nearly every week, and things that we were not expecting to 

 find have developed. 



Experiments with Paris green were made the first 3^ear, and I have 

 no doubt that vast numbers of caterpillars were destroyed, but I know 

 in many cases I could go to a most thoroughly sprayed tree two, three, 

 or five days afterwards and find living caterpillars that would trans- 

 form, and this on trees where Paris green had been used at the rate of 

 1 pound to 150 gallons of water, which was as strong as the trees 

 would bear, as shown by a slight burning of the foliage. We tried 

 other substances, as Paris green and lime, and then secured a chemist 

 to experiment with different insecticides. It would be impossible to 

 state the different substances that were tried, man}' of which would kill 

 the insects and at the same time kill the trees. Other things that 

 would kill the insects and not injure the trees cost so nuich that we 

 could not use them ; so there was some difficulty with most of the dis- 

 coveries he made. At last the chemist hit upon arsenate of lead, and 

 this has proved quite valuable. 1 regret to say that this young man, 

 contrary to our expectations, has applied for a patent. The Common- 

 wealth of Massachusetts has entered a protest. The authorities have 

 tried to get information from the Patent Office, but were informed 

 that it is not customary in the Patent Oftice to give out information. 

 Whether the chemist will succeed in getting the patent I do not know, 

 but I hope not. 1 wish him no harm, but I want this Commonwealth 

 and other States to have the advantage of any discoveries we may 

 make. No man can now be employed on the gypsy moth work or be 

 paid by the State until he signs an agreement that all his discoveries 



