Crop Pest Commission of 



the State has increased almost 400 per cent. During the current 

 season we have inspected 2,207,300 trees and plants intended 

 for sale, as against the inspection of but 683,500 during the 

 year previous. During the current season also we have issu^^d 

 "health certificates" to 50 nurseries within the State, as against 

 certificates issued to 27 nurseries during the previous season. 



We have every reason to believe that this increase in the 

 fruit growing industries has been due largely, if not entirely, 

 to the protection against deadly enemies which has been afforded 

 the growers by the Crop Pest Commission. The express and 

 railroad companies have given us their full support in enforcing 

 the regulations governing the shipment of nursery stock, and 

 we believe our inspection system to be now so thoroughly organ- 

 ized and effective that it is almost impossible for a Louisiana 

 farmer to purchase a fruit tree infested with any dangerous 

 insect or disease. 



FIGHTING THE WHITE FLY OF THE ORANGE. 



In the spring of 1906 we attempted the introduction of the 

 so-called "red-pink fungus" into Louisiana orange groves. This 

 fungus destroys the white fly of the orange, and is therefore 

 highly beneficial. I am pleased to report that despite the fact 

 that a severe drought made conditions very unfavorable for 

 this attempt last spring, we succeeded in getting this beneficial 

 fungus well established at Lake Charles, La., and on the tr^es 

 where it is at work upwards of 95 per cent of the white flies 

 on the trees were killed during the winter. We are now attempt- 

 ing to get this same fungus established in the orange groves in 

 Jefferson and Orleans Parishes, and as material is available, we 

 hope to establish it in all of the principal orange growing par- 

 ishes of the State. 



An extensive series of spraying experiments upon orange 

 trees was begun at the Audubon Park Experiment Station dur- 

 ing January and February. 1907. Various formnlae and sprays 

 were tested for the purple scale, white fly and other insect ene- 

 mies of citrus fruits. While our observations on these experi- 

 ments have not been completed, the present appearance of the 

 sprayed trees indicates that some of the materials used will 

 prove efficacious and of great value to the orange growers in 

 keeping their groves in good, healthy condition. 



