New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-02
TIE NEWJERSEY MosorIro.

Governor MurphyS decision 10 devote part
of the contingent fund ut his disposal 10 at
tempt to exterminate the mosquito is highly
cOmmendable. The Trenton legislature recently
showed much sympathy with the proposed
crusade but somehow neglected 10 make proper
provision for it, Hence it IS particularly graft
flying to see the executive come to the rescue.
Justly or unjustly, New-Jersey enjoys the rcpu-
taton of being more sorely afflicted by the pest
in question, area for area, than any. other State
in the Union, and II is wise policy to see what
Improvement can be effected. Moreover. recent
experience shows that the nuisance can be ma
terally lessened, If not overcome, by properly
directed effort. When. however fairly sue
cessful campaign has been wagcd in n given
locality the place will occasionally suffer from
the neglect of adjacent towns. Mosquitoes
which have been bred at distance will some
times be carried by the wind TO n region that
has once been almost freed from them. Con
Certed 8ction In a number Of communities Is
needful, therefore and this can best be brought
about by a general supervision. Then, too
slightly different measures desirable In
different districts, and State official exercis-
ing an oversight OF the whole work could pre-
vent mistakes and a waste of labor. material
and enthusiasm. Professor Smith. Npw-Jersey's
State entomologlst, has already shown himself
admirably qualified for the performance Of
these duties, and the Governors confidence in
him is fully justified.
DIR. l.. o. Howard long ago pointed out that
the most effective method of fighting the mos
quito was to attack it's breeding places When
these have once been positively identified they
should be drained or filled up If possible Where
such a course is found 10 he impracticabIe. he
advises the Introduction of fish to the ponds or
reservoirs, or putting n small quantity of petro-
leum On the surface of the water Major Ron
ard Ross, of the Liverpool School of Tropical
Medicine, who has probably bad more actual px-
perience i'll this kind of warfare than any other
living man. makes another valuable suggestion
in his 'MoSquto Brigades." Such small objects
as bottles, broken flower pots discarded tomato
cans and sardiEe boxes will frequently hold
enough rainwater to serve as nurseries for
larvae. He therefore recommends the organiza-
ton of n gang Of men to 90 through town
systematically and collect all of these rcccp-
tacles and remove them. BY enlisting local
effort all over the State in the fight and by sup
plying information as to the wiscst mode of at
tack in each place, Professor Smith would ac-
compish great good He probably would not
completely rid New-Jersey of mosquitoes. 1t
should be feasible though, to secure almost
perfect immunity for many districts which are
now sOrely afflicted every summer and sen
sibly to lessen the evil. Much would be learned
in the first year which would he useful in later
campaigns. and the State could then give points
| to other commonwealth which are less enter
prisng and perhaps equally in need of relief
The fundamental principle of these crusades
is that prevention is better than cure 1t should
also he remembered that better results are to
be anticipated from vigorous campaigning in
the spring and early summer than when the
season is far advanced. a female MOSQUITO
deposits from two hundred to four hundred
eggs in a batch, and one generation may sue
coed another at intervals of from twenty to
thirty days. BY the middle of September the
progeny of Il single insect which had lived
through the previous winter. and which began
egg laying in May, might number several
billions, provided that neither man nor nature
interfered with the process of multiplication
: The sooner the people of New-Jersey take
active measures to prevent the breeding of mos
quitoes then, the greater will be their COM
fort and that of their guests when dog days
arrive. AT the same time they will be promot-