422 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Drastic rules and regulations have been issued governing the im- 

 portation of cottonseed cake, meal, and other cottonseed products 

 into the United States from Mexico and other foreign countries, and 

 the regulations governing the importation of cotton lint have been 

 readjusted to meet these new emergencies. Eegulations have also 

 been issued and are being enforced governing the railway and other 

 traffic between Mexico and the United States to safeguai*d against 

 the accidental entrance of infested seed or insects in connection with 

 such general traffic. 



EXPLORATION IN MEXICO. 



To secure as definite information as was possible of the distribu- 

 tion of the pink boUworm in the Laguna district and perhaps else- 

 where in Mexico, Mr. August Busck, an expert of the Bureau of 

 Entomologj^, was commissioned by the Federal Horticultural Board 

 to conduct as thoroughgoing an investigation as was possible under 

 the disturbed conditions then obtaining in Mexico. It was desired 

 particularly to determine the possibility of extermination of the pest 

 in Mexico in cooperation with the Mexican Government, and the 

 expedition which was to have been a cooperative one between the 

 United States and Mexico was undertaken after a long series of com- 

 munications with the ISIexican authorities and the Mexican ambas- 

 sador designate in Washington, conducted through the agency of 

 the Department of State. Unfortunately the conditions were such 

 in Mexico early in April when the investigation was undertaken 

 that it could only be imperfectly completed. Information as to and 

 samples of seed from, the principal ranches in the Laguna were 

 obtained, which indicated the general distribution of this pest 

 throughout the Laguna district, and exact information was obtained 

 of the importations of seed in 1911 from Egypt which brought this 

 pest into Mexico. 



Mr. Busck made a minute inspection of the cotton plantings in 

 Mexico near the American border from Matamoros to Eagle Pass 

 and was unable to find any evidence of infestation of cotton fields 

 in this region up to the season of 1917. Two instances of fields 

 planted with seed from the Laguna, however, were located — both 

 of these near the American border. These fields will be kept under 

 observation by agents of the board and further explorations in 

 Mexico will be undertaken as conditions permit. 



TECHNICAL INFORMATION FOR INSPECTORS. 



In continuation of work conducted by Mr. Busck in Hawaii in 

 relation to this insect, recorded in last year's report of this board, 

 a technical paper on the pink bollworm prepared by Mr. Busck 

 has been published, in which are given descriptions and technical 

 drawings which will enable any competent entomologist to identify 

 this insect in any of its stages. This paper will be of great value 

 to inspectors and others connected with the work of enforcement 

 of the cotton quarantine and regulations. 



