PROFESSOR SANDERSON'S ADDRESS

Professor Edward D. Sanderson of the New Hampshire Agricultural College gave an address under the auspices of the Dartmouth Scientific Association in Dartmouth Hall January 23 on "The Gypsy and Brown-Tailed Moth in New Hampshire." The lecture was illustrated with a large number of slides showing the different stages and development of the moths and the injury and devastation they have wrought in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Professor Sanderson said in part:

"Recent inspections have shown that the brown-tail moth now occurs all along the north shore of Lake Winnipesaukee to Rumney and Grafton, within two towns of Hanover, on .the north west, and to the western boundaries of Merrimack and Hillsborough counties. In the coast towns the webs are possibly not so numerous as last year, as large numbers of the caterpillars were killed by a fungous disease during June. This disease was not noted further inland and will only occur when wet weather prevails. The excellent work done by the Dover, Somersworth, and other city authorities in destroying the webs last winter was commended, but it was pointed out that there are probably now as many or more webs than last winter. This is due to the fact that neighboring towns failed to destroy the' webs last winter and the moths flew into Dover in the summer so that the cost for work this winter will probably be increased rather than decreased. Such a condition shows the necessity of some state legislation towards the control of the browntail moth.

"The act now before the legislature would require each property owner to remove the nests of the brown-tail moth on his premises up to a cost of 1-2 of I per cent of the taxable valuation of the land and improvement. It would require all towns to expend such a portion of 1-10 of I per cent of its taxable valuation as is necessary in the control of these pests and would provide that the state reimburse the towns and cities for 50 per cent of all spent in excess of 1-10 of I per cent of the taxable valuation. This is practically the law which has been in successful operation in Massachusetts for the last two years, with slight modifications adapting it to New Hampshire conditions. It has received the careful consideration of some of the best informed men in the state as well as the Massachusetts and United States government officials engaged in this work, and received their hearty support. Some such measure is certainly necessary if any advance is to be made toward the control of the browntail moth, as at the present time there are many towns which are doing practically nothing toward its control, and in every town there are many property owners who neglect it, or estates with no residents, which are neglected.

"Work by the inspectors of the United States bureau of entomology has shown that the gypsy moth now occurs in eight coast towns, Kittery, Eliot and York, Me. One case has been found near Augusta, Me., a nest was recently found in Manchester, and the inspectors expect to find nests in Nashua where they are now working. In the eight coast towns 3344 egg masses were found in 284 localities. As much of this work was done during the late summer and early fall before the leaves were off the trees, re-examination would undoubtedly show some egg masses which were overlooked. The single egg mass found in Manchester, and nine nests so far found in Nashua, also indicate that all the towns between the coast and Manchester which are on the main lines of travel should be carefully examined for the presence of this pest. The gypsy moth is a much more serious pest than the brown-tail moth, for it attacks pines, spruce and evergreen trees as well as all the shade and fruit trees. If a pine or spruce tree is defoliated a single year, it is killed. Large areas in eastern Massachusetts have been killed by a single year's defoliation. Were the gypsy moth to become established in the pine woodland of southern New Hampshire it is a question whether the state would be able to stop its spread.

"The United States bureau of entomology at present has two parties of men locating the gypsy moth in New Hampshire, and will endeavor to scout most of the territory probably infested during the coming winter. It will then be necessary to put burlap bands on all the trees around those where the egg masses were found, to make sure that no caterpillars escape. The whole infested territory will then need to be re-examined next year. D. M. Rogers, the official in charge of the government work, estimates that it will cost at least $2000 per town a year to exterminate the gypsy moth where it has been found established. Already ten towns are known to be infested.

"The work in the introduction of parasites by the state of Massachusetts and the United States government is so far highly promising, though it will be some years before it will be possible to determine exactly of how much value they are. It is highly desirable that colonies of these parasites be placed in New Hampshire as soon as possible. If the gypsy moth is not controlled or exterminated in New Hampshire at the present time and if it is allowed to increase until it becomes injurious, it is a question whether it will be possible to control it, even with an enormous outlay of money. Massachusetts wasted considerable money by small appropriations which were insufficient. A large appropriation for a few years, so that the pest might be effectually checked or exterminated, is therefore urged as the wisest financial policy for New Hampshire.

"The bill now before the legislature carries $50,000, of which $20,000 will be necessary for work against the browntail moth, $25,000 for work against the gypsy moth, to be under the immediate control of the state official, and $5000 for work with parasites. I would emphasize the importance of immediate passage of whatever measure is deemed feasible by the present legislature, as the work must be done before April 15, and it would take some time to organize and secure the cooperation of the various towns. From conversation with men throughout southern New Hampshire I believe that public sentiment is strongly in favor of prompt action."