Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-08
Discussed at Agricultural
Rooms, State House,
By Or. Howard, Prof. kirkland,
Gov. Coleman and Others.


S1der question OF very grave iIHpoi
lance to the people of Maine VIZ. the
ravages Of tie brown-tail moth and
the menace of the even more destruc-
tive gypsy moth, together with the
best methods for preventing the spread
of these pests. In opening the meet
ing Commissioner Gilman stated that
they had with them several dlstin-
guished gentlemen familiar with the
subject under discussion and peculiar
ly qualified to advise the people OF
Maine concerning it. Among them was
Dr. Leland o. Howard. chief of the
division Of entomology Of the United
States Department of Agriculture. DR..
Howard was present representing the
general government. He had at his
disposal a portion of an appropriation
made by Congress to aid in the work
of curtailing the ravagcs of the brown
tail moth. Some of this money he was
willing to spend in Maine if he could
be assured that the people of the State
were alive to the danger that threaten
ed from this pest and ready to CO.
operate in the work of DISCRIMINATING
it. He had therefore called together
those present for the purpose of show
State in the matter and the work that
had been done to check the ravages of
these moths. He then called upon
Professor Hitchings for a report of the
work which had been accomplished in
the expenditure of the State appropria-
ton under the direction of the agricul-
tural department.
Professor Hitchings stated that the
commission in charge of this work
in Maine had completed one year
of it's labors and was now on it's
second year. Four thousand square
miles of territory In Maine had al
ready been invaded by the brown-tail
moth This area extended as far as
Bucksport on the Penobscot river. Au-
gusta on the kennebec river and Tur-
ner on the AndrOscOggin river. Some
parts of the State, especially the coast
towns i'm York county were almost as
badly infested as parts of Massachu-
sets. Owing to the small State APP
propriation available for the purpose
the work in Maine had been carried
forward largely on educational lines.
The school children had been enlisted
I in the cause, and had assisted in de-
was found by active work that the
brown-tail moth had already been in
Maine more than year when the work
of destroying it was inausurated. One
moth at least of this species was
known to have been in Maine as early
as 1900 We had from the start in this
State the benefits of the experience of
Massachusetts in dealing with this
pest. This year starting at Rockland
the number of nests taken has quad
rupled; but in the former infected dis
trict the pest has been reduced fully
| so per cent On the island of Mt. De-
| sert last year IL nests were taken. This
year more than 5000 nests have been
taken there. The town of York was
specially infected, and the citizens Of
that community had aroused them
selves to the necessity of it's de-
struction to such an extent that
| it's ravages there had been largely
stayed. The same was true of kittcry
and Old Orchard. In the latter town
the work was so thoroughly done that
no nests have been reported from
there the present year.
Hon. Y. A. Gilbert. president of the
State Pathological Society. was the
next speaker He said that his Organi-
cation largely appreciated the inn
portance and menace of this insect in
vasion and took steps to secure the
State appropriation by means of which
the work Of checking it's ravageS had
thus far been carried on. is a mat
ter of very grave import to the fruit
| growers of Maine, for it is upon TIL.
fruit trees that it preferably makes its
first attack. Later on it attacks Other
trees. 1t was he declared very i'm.
portant that the people of the State
should be made to appreciate its seIi
GUS character in order that an intereS
might be maintained in the work 0
holding it in check. He had Away:
|; been in hopes that Nature might il
time provide a remedy for this evil. ant
there was hope that in the though
that the human race had never we
, been overcome by any insect. 1t woul'
mot answer, however to wait for Natur
| to provide a remedy. which might COM
| too late to he of practical value. J
grave responsibility rested upon on
State to vigorously fight this pest
! and IT was one that should be me
promptly and intellgently.
DIR. L. o. Howard, the next speaker
, said that he had come to Maine to fin
| out what the temper of the people
, | this State was on this subject. Con
, gress had appropriated sSOO,500 to as
, sist in checking the further sprea
| of the brown-tail moth and the gyp
sy moth. He felt that the bulk of tn
, sum expended from this appropriation
in Maine should be applied to the con
, | troll of the gypsy moth. The brown
tail moth was already larger
, lout of bounds, but so far a
:, was known. the gypsy moth had nc
), vet invaded Maine. The gypsy mot
: was a special menace to this Stat
:, from the fact that it destroys spruc
= land pine trees which constitute lare
;, land valuable factor in our natural re
Isources. He would first send out
g scouting force to see if the gyps
\ moth had entered Maine and If S
: would put men to work to destroy 1t.
vi DR.. Howard was followed by Pro
o A. H. Kirkland. superintendent of II
v gypsy moth commission of Massach'
i sets. who said that his state was fa'
3 ing a very serious emergency with Il