62 



THE GYPSY MOTH. 



The Work of 1892. 



On the first of January, 1892, there remained of the 

 appropriation of 1891 the sum of $5,213.13. This could 

 have been used to good advantage before January 1, but it 

 was thought to be of more importance to retain it, so that 

 the most expert men might be kept at work until such time 

 as another appropriation would become available. The 

 nucleus of an organization was thus maintained during the 

 winter. Early in January, 1892, when the Legislature con- 

 vened, the State Board of Agriculture by its secretary made 

 a report recommending an appropriation of $75,000 for the 

 year. Though the money available in 1891 had proved in- 

 sufficient to maintain as large a force as was needed to obtain 

 the best results, the committee deemed it unwise to recom- 

 mend more than $75,000 for the work of 1892. The 

 experience of 1891 had determined that spraying with 

 arsenical insecticides (the method which had been most 

 strongly recommended by the best authorities) was a failure 

 as a means of extermination. The experimental work of the 

 first year had not resulted in providing a better insecticide, 

 and further experiments were necessary. Again, much 

 difficulty had been experienced in securing efficient and 

 trustworthy men. It was evident that a large portion of 

 another season must be occupied in selecting and training a 

 body of men which could be used in organizing a larger force. 



Althouo^h the moths had been found scattered over a reo^ion 

 of two hundred square miles, there was considerable doubt as 

 to whether the extent of the infested area had yet been 

 determined. Though the outlook was not altogether en- 

 couraging, nine-tenths of the moths in the region found 

 infested had been destroyed, and there was no immediate 

 danger from them so long as they were kept under control. 

 The committee were confident that the moths could be con- 

 trolled and their numbers at the same time still further 

 reduced with the amount of money recommended, while in 

 the mean time experimental work could be carried on to 

 determine the policy for the future. 



