Insect Notes For 1918 7d 
new infections were found by means of the leads, but these were soon 
eradicated. 
The small number of new infections found and the fact that the 
old infections are confined within rather narrow limits, seems very 
encouraging. In spite of the fact that it takes several years for the 
disease to show itself, we believe that there is a chance of entirely 
eradicating it within the state. If given an appropriation to continue 
the work for two years more, we shall be able either to eradicate the 
disease or to recommend means for keeping it under control. The 
white pine lumber of the state is so valuable that with such a possibility 
before us, it would seem folly not to spend the small appropriation 
needed for the trial. 
BARBERRY ERADICATION 
On March 19, 1918, the Minnesota Commission of Public Safety 
passed an order making the State Entomologist responsible for the 
eradication of the common barberry (B. vulgaris) and all its varieties. 
This order, No. 28, declared these bushes to be a public nuisance and 
a menace to the public welfare, and their maintenance, propagation, 
sale or introduction into the state was forbidden. Whenever these 
bushes were located, the owner was to be notified that these dangerous 
bushes were growing on his premises and that he must forthwith 
destroy them. 
The United States Department of Agriculture had at this time 
already started a campaign of education regarding the dangerous char- 
acter of these plants, and as federal scouts were at work in the state, a 
hearty co-operation was effected. Much publicity had been given to the 
movement and probably four or five times as many bushes as we have 
actual record of, were destroyed before active scouting occurred. To 
date, all the counties of the state have been scouted except three, and 
in two others no barberries have been found. We have records of more 
than 50,000 plants dug up and destroyed from the ordinary plantings 
of city, town and summer residence lots. In the nurseries of the state, 
where we can get more absolutely accurate counts, 607,434 bushes have 
been destroyed. 
The rust investigators from the different states have observed 
many interesting facts in the relationship of the barberry to the black 
stem rust of grains this year. In some states every single infection 
of rust investigated was directly traceable to barberry. As many in- 
stances have been found where the barberries have begun to grow wild 
in this state, we believe the campaign for their eradication was started 
