Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-04
STATE HOUSE.
Gypsy Moth Caterpi||ars
Are on the Rampage.
Whole Of Southern Maine In
tested ---Situation Serious.
Maine Central Wants to Build
Tracks at Portland.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR,
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council
Thursday, July 30, at 10 A. M.

From information given out at the
department of agriculture Friday it IS
learned that the situation in the south
western part of the State as regards
the presence of the gypsy moth is. not
withstanding the excellent work which
has been done by the members of the
field force Of scouts during the past
two years in destroying the cater
pillars and nests Of the moth, very
serious, and means a lot of hard and
continued work ahead before the new
start which the pests seem to have
made can be checked
Capt f., t. Philbrook of Portland,
the special agent in charge of the field
forces, was at the department yeSter-
day and in speaking of the situation
said that the caterpilarS We're show
ing up everywhere in large numbers, in
kittery. Eliot, Wells, York, North Bcr-
wick. and all through the section in
which they had previously been found,
having Matched from egg clusters
which had been overlooked notWith-
standing the thorough and systematic
search which had been made by the
men engaged in the work
A force of 81 men is now conducting
the crusade and up to yesterday they
had taken 64.367 caterpillars. The
force has 68,025 trees burlapped and
the burlap is turned daily, and by this
means large numbers of the caterpll-
lars are found and captured New m
festationS are also found every day.
The condition is such that it is neceS-
sary for the men to work all OF the
time. Sundays included, and no stone
is being left unturned in order that
the work may be closed up as soon as
possible
Regarding the manner in which the
work is being carried on it may be said
that L. II. Worthing, assistant super'f-
tcndent of the Massachusetts depart
ment for the suppression of the Drown
tail and gipsy moths. inspected the
work in the various towns last week
and stated that it was the best that
he had ever seen anywhere, ana d. W.
Rogers the special field agent OF TN"
United States government, after visit
ing the scene of operations, expressed
the same opinion
The great number of caterplllarS
caught in the burlap on the trees shows
admirably the value OF the lnctilou'
and the turning of the burlapS VIII
be continued as long as there are any
| caterpillars in that section. after when
| the mon will scout the southern ana
western part Of the State.
cant. Philbrook stated that he feels
| that with proper aid from the next
! Legislature the department can h"id III
| check the ravageS of the pest i'll the
! locations where it is now found.
Another unwclcomc piece of news
in connection with the gypsy in"th Is
the finding by Mr. Soulc of the teld
force of a number of caterpillars at ihc
| National Home Mr. Soulc has Tor
| some time been detailed to keep a
watch of the locality on the Home
| reservation where an infeStation was
| found about two years ago, the place
being in the quadrangle in front oi
! some of the main buildings. Last week
| he found three of the caterpillarS OF
| the moth and on inspecting some par
berry bushes nearby found Is. 1t is
| his theory that the catcrpillars Wcl'
| Matched from some egg cluster u'u't
| the board walk which traverseSr that
| section. which theory is strengthened
bv the fact that the catcrpillars We're
rather small considering the lateneSS
of the season and the warm weather
which has prevailed The place IS be
ING carefully watched and it is prob
able that all the caterpillars when
make their appearance will be destroy
ed