P.D. 123 19 



Rust had been reported on the pine host in 285 of the 355 cities and towns 

 in Massachusetts. Conditions prevailing during 1929 were favorable for 

 the production of a heavy crop of spores in the spring, but the prevalence 

 of unusually dry conditions during the summer months resulted in a below 

 normal condition of infection on the leaves of Ribes (currant and gooseberry) 

 bushes, the secondary host plants of this disease. 



The State-wide effort which is being made to prevent the further spread 

 of the rust is being carried on by this division in co-operation with the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, other State departments in pos- 

 session of f Oldest lands, and local woodland owners throughout the State. 

 Through the continued use of window and roadside exhibits, the publication 

 of news items in the local press, and the distribution of printed circulars, 

 the subject of blister rust and its control was kept before the general public. 

 Intensive interview work among pine owners resulted in gratifying co- 

 operation from 1,809 property owners. During the field season, 258,415 

 acres of land were inspected and 841,039 wild and 31,646 cultivated cufrant 

 and gooseberry bushes were uprooted as a protection to nearby white pines. 

 These figures include the results of re-examinations made on 16,336 acres 

 of land owned by 53 former co-operators, who were anxious to ha^'e their 

 pines more adequately protected from the rust, a few years having elapsed 

 since the initial control work had been perform.ed. In these re^eradication 

 projects, 16,173 wild and 7 cultivated currant and gooseberry bushes were 

 destroyed. In the combined work of the season, local co-operating individ- 

 uals and other agencies expended the equivalent of $12,131.16 in time or 

 for hire of labor to assist in the eradication of the secondary host plants. 



The plan to completely eradicate the European black currant from the 

 State, on account of its extreme susceptibility to the blister rust, received 

 attention only in those towns where the general control program was in 

 progress. During the year, however, this work was completed in 27 town- 

 ships. 



In the regular spring inspections of the white pines growing in the Massa- 

 chusetts nurseries, the disease was found on white pines in three nurseries. 

 Only six specimens were reported, however, and, therefore, these findings 

 are not of unusual importance. Control work was continued in the areas 

 surrounding some of the nurseries that raise white pine ornamental and 

 forest planting stock, including three of the nurseries operated by the Massa- 

 chusetts Department of Conservation. The immediate purpose of this 

 work is to insure the production of trees free from the blister rust, and the 

 ultimate purpose is to enable our nurserymen to take advantage of the 

 provisions of the Federal quarantine relative to the interstate shipment of 

 white pines. Under the provisions of the Federal quarantine which requires 

 special permits to accompany shipments of currants, gooseberries or white 

 pines into Massachusetts, 153 such permits were issued for the entry of 1,151 

 currant bushes and 1,431 gooseberry bushes, and 11 permits for the entry 

 of 5,506 white pine seedlings and transplants. 



Except in the case of the work relating to the nurseries, the educational, 

 service and control work during 1929 was carried on by the following person- 

 nel, namely, E. M. Brockway, William Clave, G. S. Doore, W. J. Endersbee, 

 W. T. Roop, and R. E. Wheeler, under the direction of C. C. Perry, as State 

 Blister Rust Leader. The work in and surrounding the nurseries was per- 

 formed by the regular nursery inspection personnel of the division. 



The Director wishes at this time to express his appreciation to Mr. C. C. 

 Perry, who has had full charge of the White Pine Blister Rust work. His 

 efficiency and faithfulness deserves the highest commendation. 



REPORT OF DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, SOIL SURVEY AND FAIRS 



Reclamation 

 The reclamation work of this di-^dsion has been conducted as in previous 

 years through the State Reclamation Board (Chapter 252 of the General 

 Laws, Section 2) of which the director of the division is secretary. The 

 report of the Board is given on page 22. 



