26 ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



The inspectors of the Department are instructed to examine the 

 following plants for San Josd Scale, inasmuch as all of these are sus- 

 ceptible to its attacks, namely: Grapes, Lindens, Euonvm'ns, Almond, 

 A}>ricot, Apple, Cherry, Cotoneaster, Hawthorns, Peach, Plum, Pear, 

 Quince, Raspberry, Rose, Spiraea, Gooseberry, Currants, Persim- 

 mons, Acacia, Lilacs, Privet, Elm, Osage Orange, English Walnut. 

 Pecan, Alder, Willows. 



CONTROL OF INSECT PESTS. 



The work of controlling insect pests in orchards aod nurseries, is 

 onlydealing with insects as they affect a single branch of agriculture, 

 whereas the depredations of insects and the destruction occasioned 

 by fungus diseases, extend to all crops, and to every plant in every 

 crop. They are to-day the most threatening and formidable of the 

 enemies which the agriculturist has to meet. They multiply by 

 myriads, and unless controlled will cause the destruction of much 

 useful vegetable life. 



The combating of these hosts is a work of great magnitude and 

 difficulty, and its importance cannot be exaggerated. It requires 

 experts of the greatest experience and most accurate knowledge, 

 to even attempt to overcome the difficulties that must be encountered 

 and discover remedies which are effective, and which the ordinary 

 farmer can safely apply. The loss to the United States, annually, 

 from injurious insects, is given at about |.300,000,000; or about one- 

 tenth of our agricultural production, is lost through the depredations 

 of insects. 



HESSTAN FLY INVESTIGATION. 



This Department, over a year ago, engaged the services of Prof. 

 H. A. Surface, Professor of Zoology in The Pennsylvania State Col- 

 lege, to make an investigation as to the ravages of the Hessian Fly, 

 with a view of discovering a method of treatment, by which our 

 wheat crop may be protected against it. This investigation has 

 been concluded, and the report is now ready for the printer. Many 

 thousands of samples of wheat were collected from all parts of the 

 State, at regular intervals of time, and examined for the presence 

 of the fly. The report shows that wheat plants, taken from fields 

 sown in August were all infested, and that the number of the 

 infested plants from fields sown later, diminished until the last of 

 September, after which no fly was found. The report is of great 

 value, and ought to be distributed by the thousands over the State. 



As an example of the service which the Department is rendering 

 in the way of giving information in regard to the treatment of crops 

 for protection against insect pests, the following may be taken as 

 an illustration. A prominent grower of canteloupes in this State 

 lost his crop in 1900 from an attack of plant lice. On the 15th of 



