28 FIELD WORK AGAINST GIPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. 



seemed to have a bearing on reducing the expense of making the 

 work more effective. 



From the time the first state appropriation was made until the 

 close of the work the gipsy moth committee procured expert opin- 

 ions from the leading entomologists of the country, and during this 

 period a large number of prominent scientists visited the territory, 

 inspected the work, and without exception reported that the exter- 

 mination of the gips}^ moth was not only practicable but feasible 

 and that it could be accomplished provided proper financial support 

 was given the work. In the winter of 1894-1895 an unsuccessful 

 attempt was made to secure national aid in exterminating this insect. 

 A bill, carrying an appropriation for $40,000, was passed by the 

 United States Senate, but it was defeated in the conference commit- 

 tee. During the session of Congress, 1896-1897, an appropriation 

 was made for an investigation of the ravages of the gipsy moth in 

 this country. Dr.L. O. Howard, Chief of the Bureau of Entomology, 

 made several visits to the infested territory and thoroughly examined 

 the conditions and the work which was being done. Mr. C. L. Marlatt, 

 first assistant entomologist, also made a visit to the infested district 

 and investigated the condition of the territory. The report of Doctor 

 Howard a highly commended the work which had been done and 

 stated his opinion that the extermination of the gipsy moth could be 

 accomplished. During the winter of 1897 the Massachusetts Society 

 for the Promotion of Agriculture secured the services of Dr. John B. 

 Smith, state entomologist of New Jersey, to investigate the work and 

 report the conditions found. The report strongly favored contin- 

 uing the work and expressed the opinion that the insect could be 

 exterminated if sufficient funds were appropriated, but the society 

 did not publish the report in full. The condition of the infested 

 territory continued to improve. The residential sections were in 

 excellent condition in 1899, although small numbers of the insect 

 were present. Many woodland colonies had been entirely extermi- 

 nated, as evidenced by the fact that none of the insects had been found 

 for three successive years. The spread of the brown-tail moth, 

 however, continued each year and little hope was entertained of 

 being able to exterminate it. 



DISCONTINUANCE OF THE STATE WORK IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



At the annual session of the legislature in the winter of 1900 a 

 special committee was appointed to investigate the gipsy-moth work. 

 After numerous hearings it was reported that the insect need not be 

 considered a serious pest, and further that "we find no substantial 

 proof that garden crops or woodlands have suffered serious or lasting 



« Bui. 11, n. s., Division of Entomology, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



