Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-03-07
STATE HOUSE.
Mr.. Gilman Talks About
BroWn-Tai|S.
Concerted Action Is imperative
in Infested Localities.
Difference Of But One in Corporations Of
January and February.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting of Governor and Council
March % at 10 A. Nj.

Hon. A. w. Gilman Of Foxcroft. COM
missioner of agriculture, was at the
Capitol Tuesday. on his weekly visit
andsthere We're also present at the de-
partment Prof. +. +. Hitchings. the
State entomologist, and Prof. s. G.
Thompson, State dairy inspector. all
three Of the gentlemen being very busy
with the affairs Of the department.
The farmers institute season is about
commencing. the spring bulletin of the
department is in course Of preparation
for publication. and with the ever
present problem Of the destruction Of
The browntail moth. there is plenty of
business in the department for about
every minute of the day.
In Speaking Of the crusade which is
being carried on against the moths by
the destruction Of the winter nests. 0f
the pests. Commissioner Gilman said
that he was daily receiving many let
tcrs from people in the different SEQ
tionS of the state. some Of which were
encouraging, while others We're creative
Of Il feeling Of a different nature. r.
ports from Lewiston ana Auburn, whore
during last year large numbers Of
the nests We're found, show that up To
The present time none at all have been
discovered. which indicates that th,.
work dOnc during that time was done
very thoroughly. and with the careful
watch that will be kept in that locality
il IS hoped that there may he no r:rur-
renee Of the pest.
Other localities. however. present re-
ports OF Il very different nature, and
ind ~ l,0
work. and of very thorough degree,
must he done 10 prevent the moths in
those localities from over-runnins.
everything. A letter from Kittcry, for
j instance, says that tn" nests are very
numerous. and one only has to drive
along the public highways in order 10
see them. Many nests are also being
, found along the Maine coast.
Another source of concern to the
commissioner is the lack of interest in
tho destruction Of the nests which is
manifested by some of the people of
, the State. Generally speaking, the pc0-
pie are alive to the seriousness of the
situation. and are doing what they can
in the way of carrying ont the instruc-
tiOnS of the department by hunting ont
and destroying such nests as they find
I on their premises and in the ncighbor-
hood, bat thcr" are others who are not
inclined to 90 anything in that line. ana
| are uIlc"ncrrnrd. manifrstinss Il feeling
| that they had rather have someone cls, \.
| go ahead ana 10 III" work than to DO it
| themselves. others. toS> feel that they
| are too poor to go to any expense in thu
matter. This feeling causes discour-
aSttntnt. also. for if one man destroys
| the nests on his PREMISES. ana the one
! whose premises his place adjoinS does
nothing in the way of ridding his prop
| crty Of the pests. htc work Of the first
man practically goes for naught.
| Mr.. Gilman states that the work
must Ice carried on systematically and
| thoroughly in order to accomplish the
desired results, ana the only way in
! which to prevent the moths from over
, running the State is by the concerted
action on the part Of the towns ana
| their citizens in such sections as the
pests have gained foothuld.