24 P.D. 123. 



this insect since that date. The area has been carefully scouted the last two 

 winters and at present the insect is known to be present in five towns imme- 

 diately adjoining Boston. This pest passes the winter in a cocoon and it is 

 easily detected. The caterpillar stage or feeding period is during August and at 

 that time the insect is easily controlled by sprajdng with arsenate of lead. The 

 State Department of Agriculture has secured the assistance of the authorities 

 in the infested towns and spraying in these towns has been done according to 

 our recommendations. There are no nurseries in the infested area and, there- 

 fore, very little chance of shipping the insect out. A quarantine at the present 

 time would not directly hurt the nurseiymen, but each time a new insect pest is 

 found in Massachusetts and is given wide publicity it does hurt Massachusetts 

 agriculture in that it calls attention to the fact that we have a new bug. 



It was, therefore, suggested that the Federal Horticultural Board allow this de- 

 partment to continue to take charge of the situation, because the department 

 believed it was especially capable of doing so, and fully realized the importance 

 of the insect. If at any time the area increases so as to include any nurseries, 

 this department will work with all necessary precaution, and if the situation 

 warrants it, ask assistance of the Federal Government. After due consideration 

 the Federal Horticultural Board decided that a quarantine at this time seemed 

 unnecessary since this department appeared to have the matter well in hand. 



The hearing relative to the AVhite Pine Blister Rust quarantine was held in 

 Washington at the request of the American Association of Nurserymen. At the 

 conference this department recommended that the unrestricted movement of 

 five-leaved j^ines from Massachusetts nurseries be permitted, provided that no 

 Ribes, wild or cultivated, are present in the nurseries or within 900 feet of the 

 nurseries and provided that no black currants, including R. aurem or odoratum, 

 are present within one mile of the nurseries; and provided further that only 

 such five-leaved pines as are grown in the nurseries subsequent to the establish- 

 ment of the above referred to Ribes-free zone shall be shipped. 



The Ribes-free areas shall be established by the State Department of Agricul- 

 ture and certification of the pines grown under these Ribes-free conditions shall 

 be made by the State Department. 



As yet the Federal Horticultural Board have not advised us whether any 

 change will be made. 



European Corn Borer 



We have cooperated with the U. S. Government in maintaining offices in the 

 Boston and Worcester Markets, where the inspection is made of vegetables and 

 flowers consigned to points outside the infested area. 



In 1923 the Legislature passed a law which required that all corn stubble, in 

 the area infested by the European Corn Borer, be plowed under by December 1 

 of each year. There was very little opposition to this law, the only cases coming 

 to our attention being where owners desired to seed their corn field down to 

 grass or rye at the time of the last cultivation. Last year the department con- 

 ducted an educational campaign with several agents in the field acquainting 

 the growers with this law. The results were very satisfactory and it is estimated 

 that 75-90% of the stubble was plowed under. This year a similar plan was put 

 into operation Avith eight agents in the field. Without doubt there will be some 

 delinquents, but it is gratifying to know that most of the growers are complying 

 with this law\ A careful scouting was made this fall for the borer and no new; 

 towns were found infested. This was especially encouraging and can perhaps be 

 partially accounted for by the fall plowing. Also, a field survey in the late sum- 

 mer and fall showed that there had occurred a decrease in intensity of infesta- 

 tion of about 20% as compared to 1923. 



An examination of the ears of sweet corn showed only 1.2% were infested 

 compared to 10.6% in 1923 and 20.4% in 1922. Similar decreases were noted in 

 beets, beans, celery, dahlias, gladioli, and chrysanthemums. The infestation in 

 weed areas was reduced to a very low point — estimated at a decrease of 75%. 

 The experts at the Government Laboratory in Arlington have liberated over a 

 million parasites consisting of seven different species, two of which have been 



