Asheville daily citizen., 1894-03-14
THE GYPSY MOTH.
Some Singular Facts About q
Deadly Enemy to Trees
Through m Entomologiscs Carelessneas
the Pest Was Introduced Into Massa-
chusctts Where 1t Now Creates
Great Havoc,

Not so very long ago scientific wise.
acre of Massachusetts, who had never
had the pleasure of meeting with
gypsy moth, since the frivolous crca-
ture had not journcycd into the old
Bay state at the time, according to the
New York Sun, sent word to friend
in the far-away land, the home of the
insect, saving: Please send me
gypsy moth right away; | want to look
at him: want to study him" So the
friend, who was an obedient chap,
went into his garden, and with no
trouble caught gypsy moth, one of
large band of moths who were en-.
campcd there and had eaten about
everything In the ncighborhood ex-
cept the house and toughest part Of
the fence, and he put him in ven
tilated box and mailed him to the en-
tomologist in Massachusetts.
The gypsy moth arrived safely at his
destination, and the scientific sharp
went to work with his jaclsnife at his
cage to discntomb him. lie was so
lively that he easily stood on his head
and scraped his hind legs together in
the air, 50 that the wise man might
know, perhaps, that he was glad to
know him lie was just as lively after
he had been carved out of his mummy
ease. but the cntomologist was light
fingered also, and he expcrtly caught
his visitor by his tailfeathers and then
went ont on his vcranda to scrutinize
him in strong light through his mag
nifying glass. But the gypsy moth
was smarter than the scientific man,
evidently very much smarter, and he
hadn't travelled over land and water
several thousand miles to be stuck on
II pin and to make an chronological
Roman holiday. lie bided his time.
and when the learned man had tipped
him over on his back, holding him still
by the tail, but with u slightly slack
cned grip, and was about to chuck his
microscope down upon him, presto! he
suddenly gathered himself into knot,
spasmodically yantcd himself away
from the glass, Slid down to the yer.
anda floor and was off into the garden
/ in Il jiify. The scientific man gaped al
him incredulously for an instant and
then set Off along the garden walk and
across the green sward, treading down
sweet peas and clover blossoms in u
perfectly futile cndeavor to recapturc
him. That gypsy moth got entirely
away and never came back, and keen
and sore was the disappointment OF
lac cntomologist thercat.
sore also has been the disappomt
mcnt OF the old Bay state therefor
ever Since the lucliless escape Of the
gypsy moth took place number OF
years ago. But though he is gone ht
is by no means forgotten. The gypsy
moth Of the scientific man followed tn,
Biblical injunction: Multiply and re
plenish the EARTH" and the point %
this history is in the fact that that lit
tie incident by which the entomologis
let go the tail-fcuthcrs of his gyps,
moth has cost the state OF Massachu
sets over two hundred thousand dol
lars in the last four years. Soon nftc
the gypsy moth got away the Bay stat
had to appoint II state commission
whose business it was to 60 and fin,
him, together with his progeny, an,
the commission found him easily an,
in n large majority. Each year now the,
keep on looking for and finding him Il,
q steadily augmenting horde. n,
trouble at ALL lie is always on deck
Last years work Of the commission
according to Springfield paper, "in
cluded the examination of four million
trees and the destruction Of forty-si.
thousand ono hundred egg clusters
nll belonging to the gypsy moth, ant
over one million oaterpillars. Now,
comments tho same journal, IAN up
preparation Of one hundred and sixt,
thousand dollars with which to fin,
and fight the gypsy moth Is asked, an,
1t is n choice between constant fight I
tho determination and the loss on th
other hand Of something like one mi
lion dollars yearly by the ravages @
. thc mast