Ellsworth American., 1906-08-15
BROWNTAIL MOTH.
EMINENT SCIENTISTS TALK OF
THE PEST.
ADVISE AS TO METHODS OF FIGHTING
IT-MAINE SHOULD TAKE PROMPT
AND ESERaErIc MEASURES.

ItHtt ~ ~ Gfpi. a. IL.
Kirkland, superintendent of the gypsy
moth commission in Massachusetts,; Hon.
A. w. Gilman, commissioner OF agricul-
ture of Maine; Prof f. r. Hitchings.
State entomologist, and other prominent
citizens, met in Bangor last week to DIS
cuss the browntaii moth situation in
Maine, and to suggest ways and means of
fighting the pest.
Prof. Hitchings said;
'sThe work In this matter in Maine has
been along educational lines rather than
falling into line with Massachusetts,, this
being due to our small appropriation. We
have notified town and city officials and
have given them information how to fight
the pest. The territory at present infested
covers about 1000 square miles, and ex-
tends from Kittery to Washington.
Inland il extends to points along the
large rivers OF the State. One place Is
Bucksport ON the Penobscot, and it has
now reached Waterville on the Rennebec,
as In that city not long since, one male
moth was found. Practically Augusta is
the limit and the farthest point on the
Androseoggin is the town OF Turner. The
work of the towns has been very encour-
aging with a very few exceptions. The
town officials have taken hold OF the mat
ter as soon as notified, and there has been
liberal expenditure of money as well as
OF time.
"a year ago the work was very satisfac-
tory indeed, but this year hasn't been
quite so encouraging, though in most
cases the different places have held to their
former work. York county Is badly in
tested, and In some towns they are dis
coursged. Not much has been done in
New Hampshire, and so the York county
people feel that they can do little when
nothing is being done across the line, and
If the insects are not prevented from pass
ing into this State.
ain the coast towns and summer resorts
the insects are plentiful, and we may call
York the banner town. Last year there
were expended 1880 and $40 nests were
taken. The town was cleaned thoroughly
and this summer 200 nests were taken.
This shows what an amount OF work was
done. In Old Orchard not single nest
was taken this year. saw no indications
OF the pest there and the town clerk told
me that no nests had been taken.
"The encouraging part OF ;he matter
is that when the town takes hold il means
business and does not leave the thing to
boys and girls to do at so much nest" E"
One year ago the State started In with an
appropriation Of 5000 and employed fi-
teen men. During the first six or eight weeks
more than half OF the appropriation was
expended. In most cases private citizens
have been earnest in the work, although
few have refused to allow the officials
to come near their premises to clean out
the nests and have done nothing them
selves. One man threatened TO prosecute
IL any man came on TO his land TO take
away the nests. Prof. Hitchings was OF
the opinion, however, that the bill passed
By the Maine legislature provided that
persons duly authorized might go ON any
mans land and fight the pests.
Prof Kirkland talked Interestingly OF
conditions In Massachusetts,, saying:
AFTER somewhat extended experience
with both insects in Massach husetts we can
hold the gypsy moth in check, but not the
browntail. 1t has spread through New
England and may possibly extend to other
parts OF the country. In 1897 it was con-
fined within an area OF three square miles,
and now we find ii in all parts OF New
England.
We have Just closed our first years work
under the new state law in Massachusetts,.
The legislature appropriated lump sum
and the law requires cities and towns TO
clean out the moths. Each city has its
own officials and does its own work.
When the city or town has been Obliged
to spend more than its share, the state
reimburses, from small!percentage up to
80 per cent. OF the amount paid out over
and above the arbitrary sum.
''Then we have the individual duty.
The work is based on the proportion OF
s. to each 1900 OF the valuation OF a
mans property, and II he fails to clean
of the moths ON his premises the sum is
charged up to him and IL he refuses to
pay, his property is sold, just as It might
be sold for unpaid taxes. Each man is
willing to go ahead, as he knows that his
neighbor will not be allowed to maintain
a nuisance.
"My suggestion is that at tine next ses-
sion Of the legislature you get general
anti browntail moth bill. The Massachu-
setts bill represents the concensus OF
opinion of over two hundred of the repre-
sentative citizens of the state. would
urge you to have bill passed as soon as
possible at the next session OF your legis-
lature.
al would urge vigorous action. The
theory in Massachusetts, in which we
asked the assistance OF the national gov
ernment was that the matter had become
an Interstate affair, as the moths had
spread from our state TO others. This
gave us suitable, just and proper base
for asking the government to help us. We
also felt in our state that until we had
s-f.,.,. o..;d.acs ~ nur .xpr, esond fat h