burgess: gypsy moth and barrier zone 
57 
unfavorable weather conditions, there was heavy mortality of Gypsy 
Moth larvae in many isolated areas, but in general the increase in the 
territory between the barrier zone and the Connecticut River was greater 
than normal. As a result there was more defoliation in this strip of terri¬ 
tory than had ever previously been reported, and the area where it was 
most severe and threatening to the barrier zone embraced territory in 
the towns of Montgomery, Russell, Westfield, Granville, and South- 
wick, Massachusetts; Granby, Canton, and Simsbury, Connecticut. 
In fact the extent of infestation and the area of defoliation in these three 
Connecticut towns was greater than had ever previously been reported 
in that state. 
So far as funds and man power will permit the work is being concen¬ 
trated in the area most threatening to the zone. Scouting work during 
the past year indicated definitely that some of the isolated colonies which 
have been found in the barrier zone in northwestern Connecticut and 
southwestern Massachusetts originated from windspread and it is prob¬ 
able that some of the infestation came from heavily infested spots east 
of the zone. It is hoped that winter conditions will be sufficiently severe 
this year so that material assistance in reducing the abundance of the 
insect may result, as this would be extremely helpful and assist in pre¬ 
venting the spread of the pest. 
Injury to tree growth by the hurricane which overturned and broke 
down thousands of acres of forests, as well as a large number of valuable 
shade trees in parks and along the streets and on the property in resi- 
dental and farm areas, is difficult to estimate. In addition to this, flood 
conditions due to abnormal rainfall which accompanied the hurricane, 
uprooted many trees, caused heavy damage by water and in some sec¬ 
tions injured many of the less traveled roads to such an extent that many 
of them never will be rebuilt. Some of these conditions existed in terri¬ 
tory west of the Connecticut River, but the areas were smaller than in 
the territory farther east. There are many thousands of acres of wood¬ 
land, particularly pine, that has been blown down, and the ground con¬ 
ditions are such that in spite of the salvaging operations that may be 
carried on, the area is almost impassable unless a thorough cleanup and 
burning of slash is done. 
In addition to this, with the egg deposit which was at least normal, 
and the scattering of many eggs due to breakage of the tree growth by 
the violent wind, there is every probability that in territory east of the 
Connecticut River there will be normal, or above normal, hatching next 
