Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-16
Gypsy Moths Shipped Into
Maine by the Carload.
Many Intestations from Dover,
\. H., 10 Scarboro Beach.
Total Applications for State Aid
Now Number 338;
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council
Tuesday, April 81, at 1890 A. N.

Capt f f. PhilbrOok 0f Portland,
the special field agent of the depart
ment of agriculture i'll charge of the
crusade which is being waged in the
southern part of the State with view
to discriminating the gypsy moth, was
at the department il the State House
Thursday, and in speaking of the work
said that at present there were 81 men
employed in the infested districts and
good progress was being made, hut that
at the same time there was great
deal to be dorc the coming sea-
son, and the situation as regards the
fobthold which the gypsy moth has
gained in the State is a serious one. AS
much work as is possible will be done
inithe way of fighting the moth during
the season, but the department is
handicapped to q considerable extent
by the amount of thc appropriation.
The number of cities and towns Of
the state which are now infested by
the moth is IS, which is a gain of four
over the number infested in the year
1908, which means so much additional
territory to be covered by the men en-
gagged in the work. Those places now
infested are as follows: Newton, Ac-
ton WATERFORD. Lebanon, Shaplegh,
Berwick, North Berwick. South Fer
wick, Eliot, kittery, York, Wells, Ken
nebunk, Biddeford. Saco. Scarboro,
Kenneb,nl<port and Chelsea. and there
is a strong probability that other places
Will be added to the list. The number
of trees burlappcd by the men in 1908
was $1,000 but Capt Philbrook states
that this year it will be necessary to
burlap at least 10000
One of the most dangerous infeSta-
tinrS which have been found this year
is on the Western division of the Bos-
toa IL Maine railroad, between Dover,
y II and Scarhoro and which is due
to Il carload Of SHIN wood which was
brought into Maine January %,
from some of the infested woodlands
of Massachusetts and distributed along
the track above mentioned. Shin wood
is used in evening up the track and is
shipped in logs about three feet in
length. these logs being piled at the
section houses to be cut up for use as
thev are needed.
The carload in question was badly
infested with the egg clusters of the
gypsy moth. which have been found in
greater or less quantities wherever the
logs were lctt along the line. At Scar
horo beach 81 clusters were found,
while about 80 more were found at
North Berwick. At Kennchunk 4S
were founG. ard others at South Der
wick, Eiddcford and Pine Point. These
infestations will be difficult to handle
because of tho fact that the egg ~luS-
@ ,.rU plII,h broke n Inv he log
being distributed ut the different points
and there will be no means of know
ing where the eggs have been distribu-
ted Until they hatch and the caterpil-
lars are moving about
The men now employed in the work
are on the state payroll. as the gov
eminent appropriation for the work in
Maine will not be available until July l.
Announcement was made Thursday
at the Office of the State commissioner
of highways that the total number of
appliCati for state aid which had
been received from the cities and towns
of the state was as. against a total of
f56 for the preceding year. Yesterday
was the last day on which. according
toi.hc law. applications could he made
at the Office, but for the benefit of
those who may have overlooked the
matter the time has been extended for
few days. The difference IN the
number Of applications is not as great
as it would seem from the above fig
urcS, as the total for 1908 covers lon
ger period of time than does that for
the current year, and it is the opinion
at the office Of the commissioner that
the final total for the current wear Will
equal if not exceed that of the year
1905
The first returns from local boards
of assessors to he received at the office
of the state hoard this spring arrived
on Friday. April Q, and We're from the
ass ,ssors of the town Of Harrington in
Washington county and those of Silver