P.D. 123 21 



spring of 1909 in the town of Andover. By the end of the year 1917, the 

 rust had been located on white pines in 72 townships and to date, No- 

 vember 30, 1927, the disease is knov/n to have been present in 236 town- 

 ships. 



The division, in cooperation with the United States Department of 

 Agriculture and the State Extension Service, has continued the cam- 

 paign to prevent the further spread of the rust, by enlisting the coopera- 

 tion of property owners in the work of removing all currant and goose- 

 berry bushes that may be endangering white pines. Currants and goose- 

 berries being susceptible to the rust, act as agents in the spread of the 

 disease to white pines. 



The fundamental principle under which this control work is being pros- 

 ecuted is to the effect that, while the responsibility for the protection of 

 white pine in private ownership rests with the owner, it is a function of 

 the Federal and State authorities to assist owners to some extent. This 

 assistance is rendered in the form of inspection and supervision in lo- 

 cating and eradicating the offending currant and gooseberry bushes. 

 During the year, the Divisipn, through its assistants, and in the manner 

 as described in previous reports, has cooperated with 1,973 property 

 owners. This work has involved the examination of 293,369 acres of land 

 in the important pine growing sections of the State. On the area ex- 

 amined, 683,156 wild and 31,753 cultivated currant and gooseberry bushes 

 were found and uprooted. The property owners cooperating in the work 

 expended the equivalent of $9,029.36 in time or hire of laborers to per- 

 form the necessary work. Although every effort has been made to secure 

 the voluntary removal of all cultivated currant and gooseberry bushes in 

 the local control areas, it has been necessary to use the authority of the 

 law in a few instances. This action has resulted in the filing of 37 claims 

 for compensation. These claims involve requests for reimbursement for 

 2,296 bushes, valued according to the schedule of replacement values as 

 established by the department, at $933.25. It should be noted that 1,649 

 owners or 98% have made no claim for reimbursement. 



In order to increase the effectiveness of the control work, the Division 

 restricts the further planting of currant and gooseberry bushes in all 

 the towns where intensive control work is performed. By official order, 

 dated January 3, 1928, this restriction was placed on 150 townships in 

 the State. These towns are designated as blister rust control areas and 

 under the provisions of the Federal quarantine No. 63, no currant or 

 gooseberry plants can be shipped into these towns from other States. 

 Under a special permit, however, such plants can be shipped to other 

 towns and cities in the Commonwealth. During the fiscal year, 248 such 

 permits were granted. These permits authorized the entry of 3,479 cur- 

 rant and gooseberry plants. 



The following personnel has administered the blister rust control policy 

 of the Division during the fiscal year 1927: 



Agent in Charge State Leader C. C. Perry 



District I-II Essex and Middlesex Counties W. T. Roop 



District III-IV Plymouth, Norfolk, and Bristol Counties.E. M. Brockway 



District V Worcester (South) County E. J. McNerney 



District VI Worcester (North) County William Clave 



District VII Franklin-Hampshire (North) Counties. G. S. Doore 



District VIII Hampden-Hampshire (South) Counties R. E. Wheeler 



District IX Berkshire County W. J. Endersbee 



The Director takes great pleasure in commending the work of Mr. Carl 

 C. Perry, for without his faithfulness and interest, it would be difficult 

 to accomplish the results that have been obtained in the white pine blister 

 rust work. 



