THE WORK OF 1892. 



63 



Only forty of the most efficient men had been retained 

 from the field force of 1891, and by reason of delay in 

 granting the appropriation, the committee were obliged to 

 discharge them all. Some of the most capable of these men 

 soon obtained employment elsewhere, and this loss reduced 

 the efficiency of the working force. Very little work was 

 accomplished during the month of February. Finally, on 

 March 1, an act authorizing an appropriation of $75,000 was 

 passed by the Legislature. This made it possible to make 

 arrangements to resume field work, although unseasonable 

 snow-storms still further delayed the spring inspection. The 

 old method of scraping the eggs from the trees and burning 

 them was discarded, and the eggs were left on the trees and 

 treated with acids or creosote. The scatterino^ of eo^o^s was 

 thus avoided. 



The experimental work of 1891 resulted in the trial in the 

 field in 1892 of several new insecticides. None of them, 

 however, proved generally efiective, although bromine and 

 chlorine were useful in destroying eggs in hollow trees. 



Professor Fernald had recommended in December, 1891, 

 * ' that the nests of the gypsy moth hereafter gathered be pre- 

 served in such a way that the eggs of parasites that may have 

 been laid in such eggs of the gypsy moth be allowed an 

 opportunity to develop into the perfect insect." This plan 

 was put into operation early in 1892 in the towns of Maiden 

 and Medford. All the eggs gathered were taken to a central 

 point in each town, and were there kept in a closed case until 

 all were hatched. As only a single specimen of an egg 

 parasite was obtained in this way, the plan was aban- 

 doned. 



Owing to the lateness of the appropriation, which caused 

 delay in examining and employing men, and the unseason- 

 able weather, it was impossible before hatching time to make 

 a thorough inspection of the infested region, but an attempt 

 was made to destroy all egg clusters found along the roads. 

 This was done to prevent the spreading of the caterpillars. 

 This method was intended to take the place of police out- 

 posts on the roads. It was a preventive measure, for, if the 

 eggs were removed from the trees, there would be no cater- 

 pillars to spin or drop down upon the passing vehicles and 



