re;port op state; entomologist. 265 



as this would come under the duties of the department as 

 required by the Act passed by the last legislature. 



Three sets of twenty- four mounts each were prepared at the 

 office. Plate XX shows a sample set of the mounts. Each 

 mount is 8"xi2", and the life histories of some of our most 

 noted insect pests are shown. Exhibits were made at the three 

 State Fairs, Bangor, Lewiston, and Waterville, after which they 

 were sent to Presque Isle, Cherryfield, South Paris, Gorham, 

 Foxcroft, State Board of Trade at Portland, Belfast, Fryeburg, 

 Livermore Falls, Farmington, Freeport, Damariscotta, Tops- 

 ham, Bluehill, and Cumberland Farmers' Club at West Cumber- 

 land. 



At all of these places a great deal of interest was shown and 

 many requests for bulletins and reports were made. Two 

 members of the force were in attendance at the State Fairs and 

 one at each of the others. These were kept constantly busy 

 answering questions regarding the different insects shown, and 

 other pests found in the different sections of the State. 



There is no method so effective for the dissemination of 

 information as by an object lesson of this kind. Specimens 

 were brought in for identification, followed by many others 

 later in the fall. During the session of the Annual Meeting 

 of the State Pomological Society held in Gardiner, a collection 

 was on exhibition. Much interest was manifested and the 

 usual questions were answered, especially pertaining to orchard 

 and fruit insects, together with requests for bulletins. 



By request of the Secretary of the State Grange one of the 

 collections was sent to Lewiston at the annual meeting held in 

 December. As a result 600 gipsy bulletins were sent out to 

 different granges in the State. At no other time in the work 

 has such an interest been shown as during the past season. 



By request of the president of the State Board of Trade one 

 of the collections was on exhibition at the annual meeting held 

 in Portland. It was in charge of a member of the field force. 



If it is deemed best to continue this work another fall it will 

 be done under a different system, one that will appeal more 

 strongly to the farmer in the methods adopted by him of 

 exterminating the different insect pests and fungous diseases 

 that may be encountered. 



Explanation of State Exhibit made at the State Fairs. 



