No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. M 



is only in its infancy, but we hope within a year or two to issue a 

 fairly complete publication on the Reptiles of Pennsylvania, with 

 special regard to their habits and economic features. We are now 

 certain that our studies will prove the value of all serpents, except- 

 ing the copperhead and rattlesnake, and also of all turtles, lizards, 

 salamanders, toads and frogs. The agriculturist and fruit-grower 

 will do well to preserve these animals around his premises. 



Our entomological investigations have been chiefly directed toward 

 the San Jos(^ Scale, the most insidious foe of our fruit-growers. 

 We have worked^out the life history, distribution, means of dissem- 

 ination and remedies for this terrible pest, and regret to have to an- 

 nounce that we know it to be in all but seven counties of our State. 

 It is unfortunate that we have had neither time nor funds for experi- 

 menting to determine the remedies for this pest by our own efforts, 

 as we now have to rely upon the experiments made in neighboring 

 states for information to our citizens as to how they should control 

 such a foe. Legislation pending at the time of writing this report 

 is intended to relieve this difficulty and make it possible for ns to 

 combat these by experiments which are so important and so seriously 

 needed. 



Other entomological subjects which we have investigated, and 

 upon which we have prepared bulletins, are the Hessian fly, the cod- 

 ling-moth, the canker-worm and the tent-caterpillars. In our monthly 

 bulletins of May and June, 1904, we had a special series of illus- 

 trated articles upon the tent-caterpillars, with a full discussion of 

 the remedies which we know to be of the most effective nature. We 

 hope during the coming year to have opportunity to make special 

 investigations along certain other important lines which we now 

 have in mind. 



PUBLICATIONS. 



We have continued the publication of both the quarterly and 

 monthly periodicals from this office, and, although these bulletins 

 have been limited to persons who asked for them, our mailing list 

 has steadily increased, until the entire allotment of 25,000 was 

 reached and a waiting list had to be prepared containing over a 

 thousand names, which were held to be placed on the increased mail- 

 ing list as soon as it would be made possible by legislation to increase 

 the number of periodical bulletins issued by this Department. This 

 means that there have been issued 300,000 thousand copies of the 

 monthly bulletins and 100,000 thousand copies of the quarterly bul- 

 letins. These have been demanded by our citizens and we have not 

 had enough of certain issues to supply the demand. Of some of the 

 earlier back numbers we yet have copies to spare. Our monthly 

 mailing list for bulletins now amounts to from two to four tons 

 and seems to be performing an essential service in reaching the peo- 

 ple in a practical manner and at a timely season. In addition to the 

 periodical bulletins, we have finished the special bulletin on the 

 Hessian fly, and have prepared another special bulletin on the cod- 

 ling-moth, which we hope to publish soon. 



The chief object of the monthly bulletin has been to treat those 

 insects, plant diseases, etc., that must be met by practical meas- 

 ures during the respective month for which the bulletin is prepared. 

 It has been our earnest desire to issue these promptly upon the first 



