518 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



year 1920 to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to effect tlie extermi- 

 nation of this disease in Pennsylvania or elsewhere in the United 

 States in cooperation with the State or States concerned. Under this 

 appropriation the board is actively cooperating with the State of 

 Pennsyhania in the control of this disease, and particularly in a 

 country-wide survey of the potato crop to determine the possible oc- 

 currence of the disease in other places. Over 3.000,000 bushels of 

 European potatoes entered the port of New York in 1911 and 1912. 

 and other smaller shipments arrived at other ports. It is impossible 

 to trace in detail the distribution of these importations, but enougli 

 information has been secured to show that the}^ were widely dis- 

 tributed, going as far south as Florida and Texas and as far 

 west as Nebraska, with possibilities of some movement to the Pa- 

 cific coast. In view of this situation, a very extended survey has 

 been conducted during the last two months (August and September, 

 1919), following the potato crop from the South northward in co- 

 operation with the experts of the various States concerned. By full 

 publicity and the cooperation of county agents, boys' and girls' clubs, 

 and other available agencies, these surveys have been made much 

 inore comprehensive than the available funds would have made possi- 

 ble otherwise. This survey has been especially intensive in all min- 

 ing and industrial districts, it being realized that the appearance of 

 this disease in the important potato-growing sections would be very 

 promptly reported, but that it might remain hidden and concealed 

 in the districts wdiere the gi'owth of potatoes was limited to garden 

 cultures. 



Up to the end of September this survey had been carried as far 

 north as West Virginia, and these States and Pennsylvania, NeAV 

 York, and the New England States are still under examination. As 

 a result of this survey this disease has been located in new districts 

 in Pennsylvania and has been found also in West Virginia. In 

 Pennsylvania the disease has been determined in three separate 

 localities in Cambria County in southwestern Pennsylvania. This 

 is in a bituminous coal-mining section. In the meantime the in- 

 spectors of the State of Pennsylvania have somewhat extended the 

 limits of the infestation in the old area in the eastern part of the 

 State. In West Virginia the wart has been found in one garden in 

 Randolph County and in about 10 gardens in Tucker County. The 

 infested area in Tucker County is again a mining area, while the 

 infested area in Eandolpli County is in a section which is being de- 

 veloped as a potato-growing region and particularly as a source of 

 " certified stock." 



In the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coast States an educational 

 can»paign has been undertaken, no garden-to-garden search being at- 

 tempted. 



A hearing was held January 28, 1919, with respect to a domestic 

 quarantine on account of this disease, but in view of the fact that 

 the area was limited and was at that time entirely within the State 

 of Pennsylvania, and that this State was undertaking active (juar- 

 antine and other control operations, a Federal quarantine did not 

 seem to be needed and has not been promulgated. 



The most important immediate step is the further determination 

 of the spread of this disease and of its importance as a potato pest 

 to this countrj'. Such determination of spread must be made before 



