Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-08
Gypsy Moth Infested Territory
Is Increasing in Maine, Says
Report OF Field Agent Philbrook

road been in such good condition as
at the present time. Sanford, Var
mouth, and Auburn also have power
machines which are being used to
good advantage and without any doubt
great many more towns will pur-
chase machines this year.
At the present time the infesta,
tions are found in III towns located
in 13 different counties. This does not
mean that the infestations have in
creased but indicates that at the fin
ish of the year 1912 the government
scouts had not reached the limit of
the infested area This branch of our
work is conducted BY the United
States government and consists of
scouting the new towns along the Dor
der of infested territory. This work
is not done By the government with
an effort of preventing the spread of
the moth to new territory but rather
to establish q quarantine line in ac-
cordaree with the United States reg
ulations relative to the shipments of
forest products from sections infested
with the gypsy moth. At the present
time it is doubtful if the limit has
been reached and l look for a large
number of towns to be added TO the
infested list during the present year.
Correspondence.
in addition to the field work, a
great deal Of correspondence has been
carried on by the field agent. Dur
ing the past year 1400 letters have been
received and answered. all of which
related to the proper method of handl-
ing the gypsy moth, many of them
reporting new infestations. In such
cases an inspector has been sent to
the person making such a report with
the purpose of educating such per
sons IN the proper methods of taking
care of the pests. By this method
we have enlisted the support and
help of a great many people and ]
believe that this service is the best
that can be rendered to our citizens,
as it helps them to take care of their
orchards and shade trees in the best
manner possible.
Bulletin and Colored Post Cards.
There seemed to be a desire on the
part of many Of our citizens to know
more in detail of the life history of
the gypsy and brewn-taH moths as we'll
as 20 the parasite work which was car
red on in the State during the past
year. 1t was to give this information
that the special field agent with the
help Of the chief Inspector who was
in charge of the parasite work pub
lished the bulletin in December.
EiEhty-five hundred copies were sent
cut to different parts OF the state and
they were we'll received It can be
had by any enc interested by apply
ing to the commissioner of agricul-
ture.
During the past year the special
field agent has printed with the per-
mission of the Massachusetts state
forester) 5000 colored post cards. illus
trated in natural colors and size the
various transformations in the life
history Of the gypsy moth, the brown
tail moth and the calosoma sycophan-
ta beetle. These illustrated cards
have served to clearly set forth the
characteristics Of each moth. Besides
giving their natural size and color, the
cards contained brief description of
each insect. In the case of the Gallo
soma beetle the object Of printing the
card was to familiariZe every one with
the insect, so as to give it protection.
1t is an insect imported for the pur-
pose of assisting in the destruction of
the gypsy and browntail moths. These
three cards have been greatly sought
after by our citizens, and served nice
~ for educational purposes.
Lectures.
During the year So lectures have
been given before different societies
such as oranges, schools and churches
as well as farmers Institutes. All of
these were illustrated with lantern
slides showing the life history of both
gypsy and broWn-tail moths as we'll as
the methods used in the field for the
determination of the same