Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-31
SPREADING A PEST FOR PROFIT
Destructive Gypsy Moth of Massachu-
sets Planted in Adjoining
states.

Superintendent Kirkland. head of the
Massachusetts commission engaged in eX-
terminating the gypsy moth pest, publicly
charges that grafters are going about tue
country and deliberately planting the pests
In adjacent states. II know gypsy moths
have been planted i'm Providence aud
throughout Rhode Island" he says,
planted by those who want the plague in
that state. We know who is to blame, but
we are powerless. There is no law-no
law I'm either this state or Rhode Island
which will reach them. / am going to ask
for additional legislation at once. Prison
bars are too good for the guilty parties.
The work is being malicously done by
those whose interests it would serve by
having the plague in that state Prof.
kirkland says that these grafters, wh1
are seeking employment exterminating the
moths. are engaged in carrying the plague
to other parts Of the east and that warm
spring weather will see them spread all
over eastern New York and throughout
Connecticut. Careful and complete inves-
tigation by the finance committee OF the
Rhode Island general assembly has pro-
duced indisputable evidence that the two
plaques are being brought there by those
who expect to reap a harvest in the work
of determination. The work has been
going on for some time, but the authorities
OF the little state say that they are help
less to prevent it.
The modus operandi was extremely sim
pie. The criminals, for they are surely
nothing else, even IL they cannot be prose-
cuted at present. came to Massachusetts
and helped themselves to as many egg
clusters as they could carry away ami
distributed the nests where they would do
the most harm. Exceedingly prolific and
hardy, the most of the clusters were simply
cast away in fields and vacant lots. Left
to themselves, they never disappointed the
propagators, bringing forth a goodly num-
Der Of caterpillars to start in and eat up
every green thing in sight
Although millions have been spent in
fighting it, the gypsy and browntai moth
pest still continues in Massachusetts,, and
now experts find that New York, New
Jersey and the middle west are invaded.
1t is one OF the greatest pests of the age,
one of the greatest of all ages since the
locust few over Egypt. An overwhelming
number of moths settled down upon
southern and eastern Massachusetts last
summer, and southwest wind swept into
Boston a horde of browntails. In parts
Of the city the white moths were so thick
as to make seeing across the street as
difficult as in a driving snowstorm.
! In many cases the agent OF distribution
appears to have been the ubiquitous auto
mobile. The browntail. attracted by light,
will ny into an open car. window or into
the cab of the engine. The gypsy is de-
pendent upon these human agencies to
spread him, for the female moth cannot
| fly and the caterpillar seldom crawls more
than 200 feet Not so the browntail, a
swarm Of which will rise into the air, and
| then, aided by the wind, will ny many
miles, to be drawn to earth at last by some
bunch Of street lights.
The gypsy moth plague is due to the care
lessness OF a scientist living in Medford.
Mass The gypsy is silk spinner, and
! Prof Trouvelot had an idea that by cross
ing # with the common silkworm he could
produce a caterpillar hardy enough to with
stand the cold winters. Accordingly he inn
! ported lot from their native European
haunt. and then carelessly allowed several
| caterpillars TO escape. When they got ao-
! climated TO the east winds OF Massaehu-
setts the mischief began. II was 500 cater
pillars to each female moth Soon a com
mission had to be appointed, which spent
81, 100000 in ten years in vain effort TO
exterminate the plague
II is conservative to estimate that over
81. 100000 will be expended in the state OF
Massachusetts in the next two years to
fight the plague OF moths. The state has
appropriated directly $4,000; cities and
towns will be obliged to appropriate as
much more at least. The sum of about
100000 will be spent, mainly in the work
OF supervision and OF Kidding the public
domain. such as parks, OF moths.
The only methods so far successful In
controlling the plague are DIS. OF d.
rect tree-to-tree work,