66 



THE GYPSY MOTH. 



infested have also received some attention, but in no case has the 

 gypsy moth been found outside of the limits reported last year.* 



Such expert men as could be spared from other work had 

 been detailed to examine as much as possible of the large 

 wooded region in the infested territory, so that its condition 

 might be reported on as fully as possible to the Legislature. 

 The woodland was found to be more or less infested, but its 

 exact condition could not be determined, owing to a lack of 

 money and trained men. On what was known of its condi- 

 tion, the committee based their recommendation for a larger 

 appropriation, setting forth their plans in regard to it in the 

 following words : — 



We desire to present to the Legislature the state of the problem 

 and various plans for solving it, with an estimate of the cost of 

 each class of work for the next 3'ear. There are large areas of 

 woodland in the infested towns. There are points in these forested 

 districts known to be infested. There are probably other points 

 where colonies have been established, and possibly many such. 

 The dense growth of the underbrush in this woodland, and the 

 thick carpet of dead leaves on the ground, make perfect inspection 

 almost impossible. There are about four hundred acres of this 

 woodland, which will, if it is allowed to remain, continue to be an 

 uncertain element in our problem. 



If the timber could be felled and burned on the ground during 

 the winter and early spring, and the ground carefully burned over 

 twice during the summer, that element would be eliminated. We 

 estimate the cost of this work at $125 per acre, or a total of 

 $50,000 ; but we are confronted with the fact that most of the 

 forest is situated in Medford, Maiden, Arlington, Melrose, Win- 

 chester and Stoneham, and that much of it is valued for prospective 

 parks. Its destruction would be considered a calamity by the in- 

 habitants of these places. 



We believe that with sufficient means, and in several years' 

 time, these forest lands can be cleared of moths without destroy- 

 ing the timber. To accomplish it all the underbrush and all the 

 decayed and worthless trees must be cut and destroyed by fire, 

 the ground burned over, and the whole carefully inspected at least 

 twice each year. Burlaps must be placed wherever the moth 

 appears or has been found previous to the clearing up. The latter 



* Report of the State Board of Agriculture ou the Extermination of the Gypsy 

 Moth, January, 1893, page 6. 



