REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 75 



better condition for crops than it formerly was, or to maintain it in 

 sucli conditions of functional activity as to exact from the soil a larger 

 crop and a better condition in the soil for succeeding crops. 



The problem of soil fertility is thus shown to be exceedingly com- 

 plex, but its very complexity makes it appear hopeful that we will 

 ultimately reach the understanding of the subject that will enable 

 us to handle intelligently all our important soil types and so to 

 understand their peculiarities and their particular needs as to enable 

 the most rapid progress in the development of more intensive methods 

 of agriculture than now prevail. 



BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



Without increased appropriations by Congress, the work of this 

 bureau has been carried on during the year along much the same 

 lines as indicated in previous reports, and with a continually increased 

 benefit to the agricultural interests of the country. While its efforts 

 have been directed mainly to the search for the best methods to 

 control the insect enemies of agriculture and horticulture, the subject 

 of the damage to the health of live stock and to the health of man 

 himself by the carriage of disease by insects and the subject of the 

 insect injuries to forests have been included in the work of the bureau. 



THE GIPSY MOTH AND THE BROWN-TAIL MOTH. 



There was during the year comparatively slight increase in the 

 territory infested by gipsy and brown-tail moths. The work of 

 attempting to prevent the further spread has been continued in the 

 way of clearing up roadsides, in the way of the inspection of all 

 plants and plant products going out of the infested territory, by the 

 study of the diseases of the gipsy moth, and by the continued importa- 

 tion and establishment of parasites and natural enemies of both 

 species from abroad. Conditions within the infested territory con- 

 tinue to improve, and neither the gipsy moth nor the brown-tail moth 

 is any longer the pest in the villages and towns of New England that 

 it was even five years ago. In the woodlands the damage produced 

 especially by the gipsy moth is still evident, but great progress has 

 been made in the study of woodland conditions, and this study has 

 apparently arrived at the point where the preservation of the forest 

 areas in New England seems to be a decided possibility, even in the 

 presence of the gipsy moth, and this may be brought about by a 

 varied system of forest management, the details of which are being 

 prepared for publication and general distribution. But one new 

 isolated outbreak of the Cfipsy moth of any size was discovered dur- 

 ing the year, and this was found at Geneva, N. Y. The State authori- 

 ties, aided by the advice of the experts of the bureau, have appar- 



