xlviii 



THE GYPSY MOTH. 



the greater part of this time I was accompanied by Professor 

 Fernald and Mr. E. H. Forbush, who explained to me very fully 

 the details of the work. 



I was filled with admiration of the work that is being done by 

 these gentlemen, and, although I have given the matter very care- 

 ful thought, I am unable to suggest any changes in their methods. 

 It seems to me that the methods they are following are the best 

 possible, so long as the object of the work is the extermination of 

 this insect. 



But, after going over the infested region, I have come to 

 have grave doubts as to the advisability of attempting to exter- 

 minate this pest. I am not prepared to say that I consider exter- 

 mination impossible, but it seems to me that the attainment of this 

 desired end is highly improbable. It is true there are certain 

 peculiarities in the habits of this insect that give hopes of the 

 possibility of extermination. Thus the slowness with which the 

 species spreads naturally, owing to the fact that the female does 

 not fly, and the fact that the larva in its later stages descends from 

 the trees and hides during the day-time, rendering it possible to 

 trap it, greatly facilitate the work of destruction. On the other 

 hand, the wide range of food plants, the extent of the area in- 

 fested, including as it does large forests, and the ease with which 

 the species may be artificially spread by means of vehicles, all 

 combine to make the task a very great one. Still, if you could be 

 provided with sufficient funds extending over a sufficiently long 

 period, I believe these difficulties could be overcome. 



But I feel that this is too much to hope. If at this time, so 

 soon after the terrible ravages of the pest, the Legislature appro- 

 priates less than two-thirds of the sum which your committee, after 

 careful investigation, deems necessary to carry on the work, it is 

 hardly probable that succeeding Legislatures would furnish the 

 means necessary to carry this work to a conclusion, involving as it 

 would a large outlay for many years after the insect had ceased to 

 be a pest. As I do not believe that the financial support would be 

 furnished you, I respectfully suggest that you consider the advisa- 

 bility of adopting a different method of combating the pest. Much 

 of the work that is being done now would be unnecessary if the 

 object was merely to keep the insect from being unduly destruc- 

 tive ; and, if there is no hope of your receiving the support nec- 

 essary to exterminate the insect, the continuance of the present 

 methods would certainly involve a large unnecessary expenditure. 



It is probable that if your warfare against this insect was re- 

 stricted to those localities in which its injuries are of a serious 

 nature, its natural enemies would greatly increase and tend to 



