Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-23
AGRICULTURE
erowntaiI and Gypsy Moth Work.
Relating to the Sale Of Milk

Major e. e. Philbrook. field agent
in charge Of the browntail and gypsy
moth work in the department Of ag-
riculture. appeared before the commit
tee on agriculture Thursday afternoon
opposing an act relating to notice to
owners of real estate to destroy In
sects and owners neglecting. the towns
shall destroy the pests and charge
them for the work.
Major Philbrook said this was the
first time he had ever appeared against
q bill which was favored by the ex-
ecutive office but he felt that the Gov
ernor was not acquainted with the
conditions OF insect pests in the west
ern section Of Maine. He said for ~
years the various towns in Maine had
fought the browntail moth and some
had spent as high as $4,000 for the
work and now to saddle this addition
al burden upon them together with
the white pine blister rust was hard
ship they could not bear. He said no
town in the western end Of the state
could be cleaned Of gypsy moths for
$4,000 or $4,000 and that II the law
were passed it meant notification
He said 1t wouldn't pay towns to make
the attempt to do this work because Of
the millions upon countless millions
of this pest. He showed specimens
Of trees taken in the town Of York
containing the parasite which were to
be found on all trees but horsechest-
nut and ash trees and that one Gus
ter would contain from 400 to 1000
eggs he said the only effective meth
cd OF killing the parasite was by
spraying In creosote and it would be
utterly impossible for the various
towns to even undertake this work be-
cause Of the great cost.
G. Fl. Bartlett Of Eliot, a former
representative from that town, told
the committee they had no idea OF
the conditions Of the gypsy moths in
his town and locality. He said he had
been in the woods this winter and the
trees were hanging with these pests.
oaks, birches and cherry trees were
alive with them and 1t would be next
to impossible for the town to raise
money enough to fight them.
He said this meant an added burden
to the towns and that the bill should
be revised SO that the state could cope
with the situation. He said the
browntails had about disappeared but
the gypsies were even worse than the
browntails had ever been. He said
men could not be found to do the work
either as the navy yard takes most Of
| them and they rather work there
where they are sure Of a good Job At
bigger money.
Major Philbrook in answer to cues
ton by the committee as to the cost to
clean up that section. said It would
cost $4,000 alone Just to clean up the
gypsy moths on the road leading from
| the town Of Eliot to South Berwick
He said he found he could do more
with the selectmen and clerks by coax
ing and pleading with them than by.
| trying to drive them to do this work:
he said there never had been a time
| when any town official refused to do,
| what the State department Of agricul-
ture asked Of him but II this law were
forced upon them there would be much,
notification because the work could
| not be done.
H. H. Cook first selectman Of Kit
terry, said his town appropriated Sll4
for cleaning up brown tail moths last
year and this year they were loaded
down with gypsy moths. He said all
| Of the men Of his town able 10 work
were employed In the Kittery navy
yard. that they were handicapped for
men and during the present winter
had been obliged TO depend upon boyJ
! (continusd On Pace Iii Gel. 81