The Somerset reporter., 1897-07-08
GYPSY MOTH is DOOMED.
Professor Fernsld says With Care 1t Can
Soon BE ENterminated.

Soon lie ENtermnated.
Massachusetts is, it seems, to be rid
Of the gypsy moth. The determination
is under way, and, with vigilance, lib
eral appropriations and scientific meth
ods, it Is believed that the end of the
long battle is in sight 1t is almost 80
years since Leopold Trouyelot, French
naturalist, brought the pest to this
country for purposes of scientific expert
ment Some of the moths escaped, and
a hint Of the harm they might do was
recognized in 1870 by Professor c. V.
Riley, who called attention to the rapid
increase of the pest in New England
The history of the gypsy moth Is thus
told in the New York Herald:
The real history of the gypsy moth
and the battle for its determination be-
gan in 1889 Hundreds Of thousands
appeared in localities where they had
never been seen before and destroyed
every green thing they touched In 1890
the first gypsy moth commission was
appointed by Governor Bracket. Its
first estimate of the infested district was
a tract about a mile square, and $25, 600
was appropriated. In May it reported
that the district was l6 times as large
as it had supposed and received $40, 900
more. Eighty nine men were employed
on the trees, and special police were ap-
pointed TO patrol the roads and dlsinfect
carriages, so that they would not spread
the pest to other points. The matter
was finally placed in the hands of the
state board of agriculture, in 1891, and
laws were made governing the action
of citizens in infested districts, and
$50 600 more was appropriated. This
was followed IN 1892 by an appropria-
ton of $40, 000. The moth was not dis
covered in any new towns in 1892. This
was encouraging, but 1t was clear that
the only way to exterminate it was to
put an army of men in the field for sew
eral years The board asked for $685.
900 and was given 100000 and 800,
900 more was asked from congress.
This sum was advanced in 1894 and
$3.50, 600 in 1895, and up to the present
time almost 500, 600 has been used.
This year for the first time sees a de-
cided decrease in the amount of money
required.
In defending its calls for continued
liberal appropriation the board of agri
culture pointed out that Massachusetts
had 81, 800, 600, 600 of taxable property
on which to levy $200, 900 a year, and
that a man with property worth 50, 000
would in that case have to pay only
about 40 cents year, a sum which,
compared with the incalculable damage
the moth might do if not exterminated,
is insignificant The encouraging re.
ports this year have reassured the many
scientists who have seen in this little
moth tremendous possibilities for dam.
age to the whole United States.
The moth eats everything that grows,
except the tobacco leaves. Professor
Howard is to investigate the matter
further this summer for the national
secretary of agriculture, and if his re-
port is satisfactory the burden Of the
work may be taken up by the national
government. If pursued carefully, Pro.
fessor Fernald says, the war against the
moth may be completed within the first
decade of the twentieth century, so that
nothing but future importation need be
feared.