28 ANNUAL EEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTURE. 



the year 25,257 cars have been inspected and passed for entrance 

 into this country. 



The general presence of cotton seed necessitated the fumiga- 

 tion of practically all cars and freight coming from Mexico, with 

 the exception of certain cars used for the shipment of ore and lumber. 

 These cars were offered for entry principally at the port of El Paso, 

 and, under arrangement with the importing companies, were thor- 

 oughly cleaned of cotton seed at the point of origin before loading, 

 and so certified. 



At present the best available means of disinfection involves the use 

 of hydrocyanic-acid gas generated within the cars. This method, 

 however, is unsatisfactory on account of the poor condition of the 

 cars and the fact that it does not destroy insects which may be 

 resting on the exterior. In the circumstances, it was necessary 

 to provide for the requisite disinfection in specially constructed 

 houses capable of containing one or more cars at a time. Contracts 

 have been let for five such houses at the ports indicated, and their 

 construction is now well under way. At Del Rio no railroad crosses 

 the border, and a building is being erected to take care of traffic in 

 wagons and motor trucks. Each structure is provided with a system 

 of generators in which hydrocyanic-acid gas is produced. The ex- 

 pense of disinfection will be assumed by the Department, and a 

 charge will be made only to cover the cost of the labor, other than 

 supervision, and of the chemicals used. Under the law the moneys 

 so received must be turned into the Treasury of the United States. 

 This will result in a very considerable depletion of the appropriation 

 available for the work, and it will, therefore, be necessary to ask 

 Congress for an emergency appropriation to reimburse the fund thus 

 expended. 



THE SITUATION IN MEXICO. 



The situation in Mexico, as determined by surveys conducted dur- 

 ing the last two years, seems to confirm the view that the infestation 

 there is limited to the Laguna district and to two small isolated areas 

 opposite Eagle Pass, Tex. This indicates a much more favorable out- 

 look for the possible future extermination of the insect in Mexico 

 than had been anticipated. 



The experiment station established last year by the Department in 

 the Laguna district to study the problem and to conduct field experi- 



