BEPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. LXXXIX 



ticide analysis and investigation in cooperation with the Division of 

 Entomoloo•3^ 



To determine the feasibility of eradicating household insects by 

 fumigation with h3'droc3'anic-acid gas several valuable experimental 

 operations have been conducted, with the result of the establishment 

 of the complete practicability of disinfecting houses by this means. 

 This poisonous gas can be used without risk to human life if the oper- 

 ation is carried on with proper precautions, but no one is advised to 

 undertake it witliout having fully acquainted himself with the steps 

 in the process as indicated in Circular No. 46 of the Entomologist's 

 ofBce. 



SrLK Investigations. 



The silk investigations authorized by the last Congress have been 

 placed in the charge of the Entomologist. Miss Henrietta A. Kelh^ 

 has been employed as special agent in silk culture in the South, and is 

 charged with the preparation of a manual of instructions which it is 

 expected will be read}^ for publication and distribution this fall. She 

 will also look over the ground and select suitable locations for model 

 silk plantations and rearing establishments which may serve as schools 

 of instruction where interested persons and others may come and 

 acquire familiarit}^ with all the steps in the care of caterf)illars and the 

 handling of cocoons. The Entomologist, Dr. Howard, during the 

 summer made a careful examination of the silk industry of southern 

 France and of Italy, studying especialh' the methods of reeling silk and 

 silk manufacturing establishments, mulberry culture, and breeding- 

 methods. He has also arranged for the purchase of "seed" or silk- 

 worm eggs which can be relied upon as free from disease, and has 

 negotiated for the importation of desirable mulberry stock. It is the 

 intention to follow up this investigation by establishing experimental 

 stations in the South, b}' cooperative work with some of the agricul- 

 tural experiment stations which have expressed the wish to assist us 

 in the investigation of silk culture, and also to establish at some suita- 

 ble point a practica])le reeling plant so that the silk cocoons produced 

 in small quantities may be purchased and reeled and the product 

 marketed. 



Apichltural Investigations. 



In apiculture the work has included an importation of select breed- 

 ing queens from Itah^ and smaller importations from Austria and 

 C3^prus. These were forwarded to experiment stations and to bee 

 raisers in different sections of the country- Very favorable reports 

 from these queens have been received, notably from southern Califor- 

 nia, where, it was stated, while black bees were doing nothing, the 

 Cyprians from the Department importation gathered a fair crop, 

 double the yield also of the best Italians. Various crosses were made 



