102 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



the previous year, (11)09) that nests aud larvae of Brown-tail moth 

 were being found on importations, espocialiy those from France 

 and Germany, made a thorough and careful inspection of all suscep- 

 tible stock from those countries imperative. This work required 

 an unusual amount of time aud labor at times, aud a temporary 

 increase of inspectors was deemed necessary in February and March 

 of the present year. ^Vhile the importations for 1910 were con- 

 siderably in excess of those of the previous year, much of the stock 

 consisted of evergreens which is usually less liable to infestation 

 than fruit or decidious trees and seedlings. About 1,500 cases were 

 inspected, and nearly 100 "nests" or tents of Brown-tail moth 

 found. No nests nor eggs of Gipsy uioth weie discovered, but on 

 an importation from Japan several new insects aud eggs were f(mnd. 

 In addition to the insect pests liable to be found on imported 

 nursery stock, information was also received from the Departments 

 at Washington, D. 0. and New York, that a very serious fungous 

 disease of the White Pine was being introduced on importations 

 from Germany. It was described as "Blister Bust," and is deemed 

 of sufHcient importance to require careful attention in order to 

 preserve our Pines from de-struction. A special inspection of this 

 kind of stock was made in June, and Avhile but few infected trees 

 or plants were found, a close supervision aud inspection of White 

 Pine trees and seedlings will be continued. It is usually found on 

 young seedlings after the second or third year, and is propagated 

 by spores that alternate between the evergreens and the Bibes family : 

 gooseberries, currants, etc. It is claimed that it can be controlled or 

 prevented from spreading by the destruction of all Bibes in proximity 

 to the Pines. 



The danger to the White Pines in this countrv from this disease 

 is deemed of so much importance that a Bill is now pending in 

 Congress authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture of the United 

 States to enforce a strict quarantine against any foreign countries 

 where it is known to exist, until satisfied that it has been eradicated 

 or is completely under control. 



The regular Annual Inspection for 1910 was begun August 1st 

 and continued until the work was completed about Oct. 1. 



Special attention has been given to the San Jose scale, while 

 Scurfy and Oyster-shell scale. Woolly Aphis, Crown Gall, Black 

 Knot, and Yellows have also received careful attention. 



In view of the unfavorable weather conditions that usually pre- 

 vail during February and March when our winter inspections are 

 made, I would suggest that henceforth the inspection be made dur- 

 ing November and December, or as soon as the trees have dropped 

 their foliage. There is no doubt that the work can be more expedi- 

 tiously and economically done then than in midwinter, when deep 

 snows and almost imj^assable roads are liable to occur. 



The inspections of imi)orted bulbs and greenhouse plants has re- 

 ceived some attention dui'ing the past autumn uionths. A tiny mite, 

 that is evidently doing serious damage to bulbs in many cases, has 

 been found in foreign consignments. In fact its presence has been 

 evident in every consignment inspected. To carefully inspect all the 

 bulbs imported into Pennsylvania each season. Avould be almost 

 impossible, even if deemed necesary, and our work has been con- 



