Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-15

Since 1890 Massachusetts Has Spent
$65O.OOO on the Undertaking.


$6JO.OOO ON the Undertaking.
DIR. Leland .. Howard. government ento-
mologist. has just returned from Boston.
where he went to investigate the work Of
determination carried on by the committee
of the board of agriculture of the state OF
Massachusetts against the gypsy moth. At
the suggestion of Senator Lodge of Massa-
chusetts d clause was inserted in the la st
appropriation for the chronological divi-
sion of the Agricultural Department for
this Investigation, a report to be made 10
Congro SIS.
DR.. Howard has been to Boston before on
the same mission, but this visit was more
interesting than others from the fact
that the caterpillars are al work now, and
he could witness their depreciation and
also the operations against them by the
state board OF agriculture. In the opinion
of Isr. Howard the work in Massachusetts,
Is the most interesting experiment in the
chronological line which has ever been at
tempted in this country. and is without
doubt one OF the most expensive. Since 1850
S6oO,OOO has been appropriated for destroy
ing the moth in Massachusetts, $4,000
of this being used this year.
The gypsy moth porthetra dlspar) is
from Europe and is supposed to have been
Imported to this country about twenty
years ago by Leopold Tfonvelt, a French
entomologist. He brought some Of the eggs
TO experiment with silk worms in some
directions, and it is supposed these blew
out of his window. Since then they have
increased in such large numbers and their
depredations nave been so great on all sorts
of vegetation that steps were taken in 1889
to destroy them.
When first noticed the moth began to work
in an area Of about 200 square miles in the
vicinity of Boston. Since the state board
has begun crusade against them the ter
ritory has been very largely reduced.
Who n.afn llur-o f,r
are feeding on the vegetation. They APP
pear In large numbers, and when they have
visited trees and shrubs no foliage re-
mains.
The caterpillar is about two inches and
half long. 1t devolves into a chrysalis
state from which the moth energies. They
are distributed over the territory by cling
ing to the garments of persons, street cars
and other moving objects.
In winter the eggs are found on trees
houses, fences and such other stationary
objects in large white patches containing
from 800 to 200. They are sprayed with an
oily preparation which kills them In
May ard June the larvae are sprayed with
a mixture containing arsenic. The trees
on which they are found are bound round
with burlap band. The larvae collect
under these bands ard are killed there
They are also exterminated in large num-
bers by clearing Up the woodland. Persons
engaged in the work go through the forest,
cut out the underbrush and burn 1t. Only
iAc tIccS are ieit stunning. In TINS man
ner millions of the larvae are killed. The
female moth cannot fly, owing to her heavy
body, and Is easily destroyed on this ac-
count. The caterpillars have not appeared
in any other state but Massachusetts,
The board of agriculture of Massachu-
sets is also disturbed by another moth,
known as the brown-tailed moth, which Is
confined to Somerville and Cambridge.
having been found there in May of this
year. 1t is also a native of Europe and IL
Is thought, was brought here in young
trees which were imported.