312 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Bi:ax AND PEA WEEVILS. — The investigations into weevil losses to 

 California-orown beans and i)eas, started during the preceding fiscal 

 year, has been continued at the Alhambra Laboratory. The work has 

 consisted for the most part in research work in biology and cold 

 storage. Two papers containing original data have been submitted 

 for publication. This work has received the hearty cooperation of 

 the bean growers and warehousemen of the Pacific coast, and while 

 the investigations are not yet complete, they bid fair to be of great 

 practical value. 



Control of insects in stored material. — Experimental work to 

 detei'inine the usefulness of fumigation, electricity, heat, and cold 

 storage have been continued during the year with a view of lessen- 

 ing or preventing the enormous waste of stored goods in ware- 

 houses. Though this work has suffered through the resignation of 

 three experts during the year, the results already obtained promise 

 an immense saving to the country when put into operation. 



Work upon the commercial machine for sterilizing cartons of 

 cereals by means of electricity has continued during the year under 

 private direction. It promises results of value to the producers of 

 cereal products. 



Household pests. — Investigations of household pests have taken 

 the form largely of a dissemination of information to householders. 

 A special study has been made of the black carpet beetle, and a paper 

 has been prepared on this insect, giving new information. An out- 

 standing feature of the work during the year has been the practical 

 aid gi^en to the Army hospitals in the suppression of pests. 



Inspection and intelligence service. — The arrangement made 

 during the war with the quartermaster of the Army at the port of 

 New York, whereby the bureau has undertaken to make frequent 

 inspections of food and clothing supplies, has continued to prove 

 satisfactory, and is being extended to other depots not only of the 

 Army but of the Navy. The purpose of this cooperation is to keep 

 the Quartermaster Departments of the Army and Navy informed, 

 through inspections made by bureau experts, not only of the condi- 

 tion of the 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. During the last few months the office and laboratory 

 maintained at the Army supply base at Brooklyn, N. Y., has been 

 closed as the result of the resignation of the expert in charge. 



Temperature and humidity investigations. — During the year 

 new research work was inaugurated to determine the effect upon 

 insect development of varying degrees of temperature and humidity. 

 Valuable equipment has already been secured and data new to science 

 placed on record. 



DECIDUOUS-FRUIT INSECT INVESTIGATIONS. 



Investigations of deciduous-fruit insects have been carried out 

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



The Japanese beetle. — Further experience has shown that the 

 Japanese beetle is almost omnivorous in its feeding habits, attack- 

 ing many important crops, as apple, sweet cherry, grape, red clover, 



