514 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



country, necessitates the constant cuttinfj back of the twigs and 

 sniallor branches, Avliich. Avlicre the moths are so plentiful as to make 

 their webs upon almost every twig, must be to some extent injurious 

 to the trees. 



Although there is a general section in this report devoted to inspec- 

 tion work, it is proper here to mention the efforts made to prevent the 

 further dissemination of the gipsy moth from the infested territory 

 by the cooperation of the different railroads running through this 

 territory. Beginning with the fiscal year 1009-10, the several rail- 

 roads issued a notice to all of their station agents (about 000 in 

 number) within the infested area to the effect that forest products, 

 such as lumber, cord wood, railroad ties, telephone poles, etc., would 

 not be received for transportation unless accompanied by a permit or 

 a certificate of inspection. The effect of this order was some disturb- 

 ance to shippers for a time, but, as they learned the object of the 

 inspection and saw the possiblity of relieving others of similar incon- 

 venience, they have gladly cooperated. A trial of this plan indicated 

 that it Avas nearly impossible to inspect all of the material offered for 

 shipment, and permits were granted Avithout inspection for the trans- 

 portation of forest products from one infested locality to another 

 infested locality, but all of the products intended for shipment 

 beyond the infested territory were carefully inspected and all egg 

 masses were destroyed before the material Avas moved and before a 

 certificate was granted to the shipper. In December, 1909, a supple- 

 mentary order was issued by the railroads to their station agents stat- 

 ing that forest products for shipment from one station to another 

 within the infested territory might be receiA'ed and shipped without 

 permit or certificate. This order properly gave a list of the stations 

 on the several roads betAveen which material might moA'e, but forbade 

 the transportation of forest products from the stations listed to 

 stations not listed, except when accompanied by a certificate. Three 

 thousand four hundred and seventy-fiA^e applications Avere made for 

 shipment, and 2,751 permits were granted, 724 certificates being 

 issued. This system has worked fairly satisfactorily, although it is 

 not perfect. 



The actual field work just described has been carried on under the 

 direction of Mr. D. M. Rogers, as in previous years. Mr. Rogers's 

 headquarters are at No. 6 Beacon street, Boston. 



IMPORTATIONS OF INSECT ENEMIES OF THE GIPSY MOTH AND THE BROWN- 

 TAIL MOTH. 



The principal efforts of the Bureau in importing useful insects dur- 

 ing the fiscal year 1909-10 have been in connection with the importa- 

 tion of the parasites and predatory enemies of the gipsy moth and the 

 brown-tail moth from other parts of the world. This work has been 

 in cooperation Avith the State of Massachusetts, and the parasites haA^e 

 been receiA-ed at the Gipsy Moth Parasite Laboratory, supported by 

 the State, at Melrose Highlands, the care of the parasites and their 

 distribution being assigned to the Bureau of Entomolog^^ The 

 laboratory has been increasingly busy and increasingly effective, and 

 during the fiscal year has employed 23 assistants, the principal 

 experts being carried on the rolls of the- Bureau of Entomology and 

 the others being paid by the State. Mr. W. F. Fiske, of the Bureau, 

 has had direct charge of the work. 



