262 TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY REPORT. 
During 1900 and igot, the attention of the Station®®’ was called 
to the work of white grubs (Lachnosterna sp.) on the roots of 
extensive plantations of asters. Some observations were made on the 
habits of the insects, and suggestions were given as to the most 
satisfactory means of preventing injuries. During the same years, 
the celery caterpillar (Papilio asterias Fab.) was quite numerous 
in the vicinity of Geneva and observations of its destructiveness 
to young celery plants in seed beds were recorded. 
Because of the general interest in this species, mention?® was 
made of the probable appearance of the periodical cicada (Cicada 
septendecim L..) during the spring of 1902 in one of the largest 
broods, known to occur in the United States. A short account was 
given of the life history, habits and other interesting facts of this 
insect. For purposes of record, detailed observations in western 
New York of the brood of 1899 were included. 
SPECIAL BULLETINS ON FRUIT INSECTS. 
Two bulletins dealing with the insects of the nursery and insects 
injurious to fruits have been published by the Station. The former, 
Bulletin No. 136, was issued largely for the benefit of the nursery- 
men of this State, to call their attention to the importance of the 
San José scale as a nursery pest and to assist them in recognizing 
the various insects attached to their shipments and purchases of 
stock. The inspection of nurseries was then in its inception and 
there was much demand for information relating to this subject. 
The Maryland legislature had recently passed a law, providing that 
all nursery stock shipped into that State must be accompanied by 
a certificate, showing that the stock had been duly inspected by an 
authorized official and pronounced by him to be free of dangerous 
insects and plant diseases. Other states had followed suit and the 
question was being discussed in many more. Owing to this agita- 
tion and the reputed menace of the San José scale to nurseries, 
western New York nurserymen found it necessary to have their 
plantings inspected or be seriously handicapped by the inspection 
laws of other states. Although there was no evidence of an or- 
ganized effort on the part of nurserymen to have the work of in- 
spection put on a proper basis, the Station at once undertook to 
accommodate them and as opportunity was afforded, rendered as- 
sistance in this endeavor for two years. 
* Bul. 212; same in Rpt. 21:233-257 (1902). 
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