No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. lUi 



work of giving demonstrations in making and applying the Lime- 

 sulphur Wash for the San Jos^ Scale. These were given at inter- 

 vals of four or five miles, in infested orchards, and announced both 

 by the local papers and by large posters. The attendance was good 

 ranging from ten to five hundred persons, and an average of about 

 thirty. Hundreds of such demonstrations were given in this State 

 by our inspectors and demonstrators, and reports are now arriving 

 showing that they were of immense value in helping to save trees 

 which were otherwise doomed to speedy destruction. Now that the 

 persons living in the vicinity of such infested but sprayed orchards 

 can see the beneficial results of this work, they are encouraged to 

 go forward by the same methods and save their property. 



The immense possibilities of public demonstrations as applied to 

 preserving crops from insect enemies and fungous diseases are such 

 that we feel justified in arranging to take an orchard in each of the 

 fruit producing counties, and m.ake it the scene of demonstration 

 for all the insecticidal and fungicidal operations that are needed 

 through the year to keep the trees and fruit in proper condition. 

 This appeals so strongly to the practical citizen that we have al- 

 ready received many letters asking us to start such demonstration 

 orchards, and we have promised to do so in case proper provisions 

 are made for the expense of the same by the next Legislature. 



While this office has pressed forAvard in active and conscientious 

 work in behalf of this Commonwealth during the past year, there 

 may have been some mistakes made, some things left undone that 

 might have been undertaken, and some things imperfectly accom- 

 plished. However, we are satisfied that important service has been 

 rendered that has more than justified the expense of the year. We 

 are at all times open to suggestions and recommendations by in- 

 terested persons, and are only too glad to have the opportunity to be 

 of further service along the lines already mentioned or on subjects 

 of such other kinds as may be possible in the general field of zo- 

 ology. 



We have had many requests to name weeds or plants, and espec- 

 ially to give the names and remedies for fungous diseases, but we 

 prefer to stay strictly in the realm of Zoology, of which Entomology 

 is an important branch, and refer questions on other subjects to 

 specialists in their respective lines. 



With almost no exception, the press of this State has been in 

 close sympathy with our work, publishing reports of our meetings, 

 reports concerning demonstrations and lectures, abstracts from 

 Bulletins and favorable comment upon the labors we have under- 

 taken and are trying to make useful and of practical interest. In 

 conclusion I desire to express my high appreciation of the faithful 

 support of the State Administration and yourself, Mr. Secretary, 

 without which discouragements would have been too great for us 

 to accomplish more than a small fraction of what this office really 

 has done throughout the past year. I hope to find it possible to 

 make the office even more useful during the present year than the 

 past, and to secure the continued co-operation of my faithful assis- 

 tants, the citizens of the State, the Press, my fellow officers in the 

 Department of Agriculture and the Administration. 



Respectfullv submitted, 



H. A. SURFACE. 

 Economic Zoologist, 

 11 



