250 ANNUAL EEPORTS OF PEPAETMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



Fu:\riGATiox as a coxteol method for STORKD-rRonrcT insects. — • 

 Experimental work to determine the usefulness of fumigation in 

 lessening" or preventing the enormous waste taking place through 

 insect attack to stored goods in warehouses, though as yet extending 

 over only a short period, has 3'ielded practical results of ^:reat value. 



Electricity as a controe agent. — During the past year coopera- 

 tive work has been carried on to determine the eltectiveness of elec- 

 tricity as a control agent in the suppression of insects in cereals in 

 package form. A commercial machine for sterilizing cartons of 

 cereals after the latter have been sealed has been installed in a large 

 cereal factory, w-ith every promise of practical vahie. Should expec- 

 tations be realized, the electrical treatment Avill result in great saving 

 both to producers and consumers. 



Cold storage as a control ]\leasure. — The value of cold-storage 

 temperatures in preventing insect damage to warehou:^ed products 

 has alreach' been proved. Cold storage is being depended upon by 

 Avholcsale and retail dealers of certain classes of foods and other 

 products as the only satisfactory method of protection from insects. 

 Detailed data regarding the effect of low temperatures upon various 

 insects attacking stored products are being secured. 



Household pests. — Investigation of household pests other than the 

 bedbug, flies, and mosquitoes, which w^as discontinued during the 

 war, has been resumed. Several pests that are believed by the gen- 

 eral pliblic to be limited to houses, as clothes moths, cockroaches, and 

 carpet beetles, have been found to be frequently A'ery injurious to 

 valuable materials stored in warehouses thronghout the country. 



Inspection and intelligence sekvice.^ — The arrangements made 

 during the war with the Quartermaster Department of the Army at 

 the ])ort of Xew York, whereby the bureau has undertaken to make 

 frequent inspections of food and clothing supplies, proved so satis- 

 factory that they have remained in force aiicl are being extended to 

 other i'ood depots, not only of the Army but of the Navy, The pur- 

 pose of this cooperation is to keep the Quartermaster Departments 

 o* the Army and Navy informed, through inspections made by 

 bureau experts, not only of conditions of food supplies purchased and 

 delivered at the warehouses, but also of their condition from time to 

 time during the storage period. Such inspections detect and lead to 

 the checking of insect ravages before the insects have had a chance to 

 multiply and cause great loss. 



The dissemination of information regarding the suppression of 

 insects affecting stored food supplies and food products, which dur- 

 ing the past two years has monopolized the efforts of this branch 

 of the bureau work, is being continued, although the return to a 

 peace basis is making it possible to open up the new lines of research 

 indicated in preceding paragraphs. 



DECIDUOUS FRUIT INSECT INVESTIGATIONS. 



Investigations of the insects of this class have been carried out 

 under the direction of Dr. A. L. Quaintance, as formerly. 



APPLE INSECT INVESTIGATIONS. 



Codling :i\roTii. — Detailed life history studies of this insect, under 

 way for some years in different parts of the country, were begun 



