116 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



gypsy moth and of the brown tail. While these insects have not as 

 yet been found in our state, they may appear at any time. When they 

 do arrive our only salvation will depend on prompt and decisive meas- 

 ures. For this reason it has been deemed worth while to investigate 

 many reported invasions, thinking it better to follow up many false 

 trails than to allow one real colony to remain undiscovered. 



The correspondence has continued to occupy considerable time. De- 

 terminations of a large number of specimens sent in have been made 

 for the farmers whose crops have been threatened or whose fears have 

 been aroused. A large series of scale insects (Lecanium) have been col- 

 lected and mounted on slides ready for study, by Mr. E. J. Kraus who 

 has rendered very valuable assistance in this and in many other ways. 



We have now in pure culture two fungi which are parasitic on insects, 

 one was isolated from a specimen of Lagoa crispata, one of the flannel 

 moths, and the other from the larch saw-fly. While work with disease 

 producing fungi is usually disappointing, it sometimes throws light on 

 insect behavior and is one of the possibilities for controlling certain 

 forest species which may not be sprayed because of the enormous ex- 

 pense which would be incident to such methods. 



Life history work, namely the rearing of insects to ascertain the 

 stages and the dates of transformation, etc., has been carried on as 

 well as possible in the absence of an insectary and in our one room. 

 It is hoped that it will be possible to have an insectary at no distant 

 time when such work may be done successfully. 



Very respectfully submitted, 



E. H. PETTIT, 



Agricultural College, Mich., June 30, 1907. 



Entomologist. 



REPORT OF THE VETERINARIAN. 



Director C. D. Smith : 



Dear Sir: — As consulting veterinarian for the experiment station I 

 have during the j^ast year answered a large number of inquiries from 

 farmers relative to diseased animals. The only serious contagious dis- 

 ease has been the contagious swine disorders. A great many hogs were 

 lost. Judging from inquiries received more than for some years past. 



The feeding exporimeuts planned last fall with reference to the so- 

 called ''Lake Shore'' disease were carried out at West Olive by Mr. A. 

 R. Potts. The results were very satisfactory and seemed to indicate 

 that the diseased condition was the result of poor feeding. We are not 

 in position as yet, however, to make definite statements, but would sug- 

 gest that the work be continued along the same line for another year 

 with special reference to the feeding of some succulent food during the 

 summer months when the pastures are poor and what feed there is 

 is drv. 



Respectfully submitted. 



GEO. A. WATERMAN, 

 Consulting Veterinarian. 

 AgTicultural College, Mich., June 30, 1907. 



