Finally, the sum of money asked for is designed to last through one season of burlap and spraying work and two winters of creosoting of egg clusters and cleaning and up to the beginning of the burlap work in 1908. It was found in Massachusetts in the previous campaigns that the legislature acted too slowly on the annual appropriations, and consequently the work was delayed from year to year while awaiting funds for the work. As this delay occurred during the winter season when the most effective work can be done, much valuable time was lost, to say nothing of the loss incident to laying off the force of men and disorganizing the arrangements for the work.

AN EFFICIENT LAW REQUIRED.

In connection with the appropriation a simple and efficient law should be enacted to cover essential points in relation to the work. This should declare the gypsy moth and the brown-tail moth public nuisances. It should provide for placing the work under the direction of one man, responsible to the Governor and the General Assembly. To him should be delegated power to deal with conditions and exigencies which may arise in such a way as to further the intent of the act.

The law should also provide for preventing further spread of the pest and for essential details of this provision, and for severe punishment of malicious persons who may seek to spread the insect.

ADVICE AND SUGGESTIONS FROM EXPERTS.

Whatever is done with our gypsy moth situation at the present time, it is bound to be somewhat expensive work for the State. We have also reached a point in the work at which some definite decision should be arrived at regarding what shall be the policy of the State, for at least the immediate future, in regard to the campaign against the pest. It is essential, therefore, that we should study carefully our conditions, and that we should get such expert advice and opinions as are available in regard to what should be done. With this

PLATE XXI.

purpose in view, the writer has corresponded with Supt. Kirkland, the State entomologists in the different New England States and New York, and with Dr. L. O. Howard of the Department of Agriculture at Washington, regarding our situation, asking them to give us such statements as they thought pertinent in reply to questions asked.

In addition to inquiries concerning our own situation, questions were asked regarding the present condition in the States in which the moth is now found, and also as to what measures the different States would probably take in regard to the pest.

In writing to these parties the following questions were asked: It should be said in passing, however, that separate letters were dictated to each one addressed, and the questions were not always given in the same order and form, nor were all the questions sent to each one, consequently, the letters will not appear to answer the questions in the order here given, nor all of the questions.

"So far as you know of the condition in Rhode Island, do you think that the policy of the extermination will be cheaper in the end than one of suppression?" "How much more expensive at the present time will a policy of extermination be over that of suppression, and how long should it take to exterminate the moth in Rhode Island?"

"If exterminated, have our people any assurance that the insect can be kept from invading the State again from the neighboring infested regions?"

"What chance is there for the development of parasitic enemies which will keep the moth in check more or less completely? If the parasites which we now have, and which may be imported, are promising results, can we hope for sufficient aid from them within a few years?"

"What is the total infested area in your State, and what are you intending to do in the way of securing legislative appropriations for combating the pest?" "Is your State planning to do anything to assist in securing a national appropriation to help in the campaign against the gypsy moth?"

To those who know something of our conditions the writer made a brief statement of the present infested territory, and also requested that an estimate should be made of how much money would be necessary for our work next year.

By permission of the writers, the replies are here given almost in full. In two or three, parts which were in answer to specific questions asked regarding other matters, not pertinent to the present discussion, have been left out. So far as the replies to the above given questions are concerned, however, the letters are copied verbatim:

LETTER FROM DR. L. O. HOWARD, CHIEF OF BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, WASHINGTON, D. C.

My Dear Professor Stene:

January 14, 1907.

I have yours of the 12th instant, and reply to your questions as follows: (1) If the gypsy moth is exterminated in your State, I think it practicable to keep it from regaining a foothold.

(2) I have strong hopes that the European parasites we are now importing will hold the gypsy moth in check. I am unable to predict the time when the effect of their work will be observed. It may be soon-that is to say within a year or two-or it may be several years.

Yours very truly,

(Signed) L. O. HOWARD,

Chief of Bureau.

From another letter in regard to questions as to policy for Rhode Island and the help that we may obtain from the National Government, Dr. Howard writes as follows:

"

I have your letter of the 2nd instant, and, to answer your last question first, I am thoroughly convinced that the best plan for you to work upon in your State is to endeavor to exterminate the gypsy moth, and not merely to control it. So long as you are isolated, as you appear to be, this is the only policy to be considered, in my opinion.

As to the amount the general government can expend in your State, I am unable to inform you. The Secretary of Agriculture, in his estimates, has asked for a repetition of this year's appropriation, namely, $82,500. An effort will be made to have this very considerably increased, but it is absolutely impossible to predict the action of Congress in this regard. So you see it is impossible for me at the present time to estimate the amount the department will be able to spend in your State. I earnestly hope that the State will make a good appropriation,