The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-08-12
GYPSY MOTT ~ COOMED.
Professor Fernald Says With Caro- 1t Can
Soon Be Exterminated.

Professor Fernald Says With Caro- 1t Can
Soon Be Exterminated.
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 90
years since Leopold Trouvelot, French
naturalist, brought the pest to this
country for purposes Of scientific expert
ment. Some of the moths escaped, and
hint of the harm they might do was
recognized in 1870 by Professor G, 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 extermination be.
gan in 1880. 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 Brackett Its
first estimate Of the infested district was
tract about mile square, and s25, 000
was appropriated. In May it reported
that the district was l6 times as large
as Ii had supposed and received $25, 600
more. Eighty nine mon were employed
on the trees, and special police were ap-
pointed to patrol the roads and disinfect
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 1901, and
laws were made governing the action
of citizens in infested districts, and
500. 900 more was appropriated. This
was followed in 1892 by an appropra-
tion Of $75, 900, The moth was not dis
covered in any new towns in 1899. This
was encouraging, but it was clear that
the only way to exterminate it was tc
put an army of men in the field for sew
eral years. The board asked for $lG5,
900 and was given 100000, and $780,
900 more was asked from congress
This sum was advanced in 1894 ard
s15o,o0o in 1896. and up to the present
time almost 100000 has been used
This year for the first time secs de-
cided decrease in the amount Of money
required.
In defending Its calls for continued
liberal appropriation the board Of aeri
culture pointed out that Massachusetts,
had 50, 500, 100000 of taxable property
on which to levy 100000 a year, and
that man with property worth s., 900
would In that case have to pay only
about 40 cents a year, a sum which
compared with the incalculable damag,
the moth might do if not exterminated,
Is insignificant. The encouraging re
ports this year have resssured 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 grow,
except the tobacco leaves. Profcsa,t
Howard Is to investigate the mattcl
further this summer for the national
secretary Of agriculture, and IL his re
port Is satisfactory the burden of th
work may be taken up by the nations.
government. If pursued carefully, Pro
fessor Fernald says, the war against tn
moth may bo completed within the first
decade Of the twentieth century, SO that
nothing but future importation need be
feared.