98 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mole crickets, Gryllotalpa borealis, have added their quota to the injury 

 to potato in damp muck}' soil near Detroit. 



Graphops pubescens appeared on grape leaves in quantity in one vineyard. 



An unusual number of hair snakes have appeared in cabbages causing 

 some little fear of poisoning by the so-called cabbage snake. It is unneces- 

 sary to add that such worms are entirely harmless. 



A very destructive larva, new to the writer, appeared on strawberrv 

 roots. Specimens have been placed in cages in hopes of obtaining the 

 adults. 



The present wet season has proven ver}'- favorable to scalq insects, es- 

 pecially those known as soft scales or Lecaniums. Great numbers are 

 received daily on all sorts of host plants. 



During the season the writer attended the Round-up Institute at Battle 

 Creek as well as the winter meeting of the State Horticultural Society at 

 Benton Harbor. Several trips have been made to different parts of the 

 state to study special cases of insect trouble. 



The botanical work has not been so extended nor has the correspondence 

 been so voluminous, although it has taken up considerable time. The 

 work has been, for the most part, confined to identification of plants 

 sent in by correspondents, to weeds, fungous diseases, seed tests, etc. 



During the j'ear blue prints were made of the negatives, both botanical 

 and those relating to insects. These were filed and systematized. This 

 has made available a large amount of material for illustrating purposes. 

 The Zeiss Photo-micrographic outfit has been extremely practical and useful 

 in recording small insects, etc. 



During the early part of the year the card catalog of references to Michi- 

 gan insects has been brought nearly up to date, so far as was at first planned. 

 All references to insects in the reports of the State Board of Agriculture as 

 well as those in the reports of the State Horticultural Society have been 

 entered on cards, making it possible to obtain easy access to this mass of 

 material. So far as possible, references from other sources will be added 

 as acquired, in hopes of making in time a nearly complete index of the in- 

 sects of our state. It hardl}' seems necessary to mention the present cramped 

 quarters occupied by this department or the lack of such facilities as in- 

 sectary, photographic room, or space for collections as are desirable. It 

 remains to thank the assistants who have done much to make the work 

 of the department efficient. Mr. V. R. Gardner, a senior student, has been 

 particularly helpful in every way, as has also Miss Katherine Gunn in sys- 

 tematizing the records, etc., and Mr. Moses Craig in botanical work. The 

 writer -wishes to convey his appreciation and thanks for their painstaking 

 and careful aid. 



Very respectfully submitted, 



R. H. PETTIT, 



Entomologist. 



Agricultural College, Mich., June 30, 1905. 



