covered and reported before they get a foothold. They should also be fully informed of how the funds are being expended.

A very small sum may possibly be devoted to the study of native parasitic enemies, to see if we have any which are more effective than those found in Massachusetts, and to introduce and test such as may be imported from Europe by Massachusetts and the Federal Govern

ment.

Several healthy colonies of the brown-tail moth have been discovered in the State, and while, for reasons to be given later, the fight against this insect should be left more largely to individual effort, such bulletins and circulars as will educate the people to help themselves should be written and widely distributed. There should also be a little money available to take care of any especially serious outbreaks which may occur at any time and which individuals can not stand the expense of suppressing. This may not require a great deal of money, but it is not safe to ignore the possibility of a need thereof entirely.

RELATIVE COST OF A CAMPAIGN AGAINST THESE INSECT PESTS.

Let us consider the proposition further from a financial point of view. There are probably in the city of Providence and vicinity 170,000 trees which will have to be dealt with another year. Taking this estimate as a basis, the appropriation asked for amounts to less than fifteen cents per tree. The people of Providence and vicinity should not object to a small addition to their taxes for the expenditure of this sum to protect their trees from defoliation and possible destruction, and the people outside the infested district should and will probably be glad to add their share to avert the spread of the pest over the whole State, and the much larger expenditures which must then be made from year to year merely to keep it in check. The expenditure required for extermination now is small compared to what we may expect will be required if the insect is not suppressed or exterminated.

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