p. D. 123 21 



examination of l'}(),791 acres of white pine producing lands and areas adjacent 

 thereto. On these holdings 1,0''24,.'J71 wild, and 8,1.).5 cultivated Rihefi were found 

 and uprooted. The 7'-20 co-operating property owners, including three State 

 Departments owning forest land, expended the equivalent of $(5,381. Oo in this 

 protective work. 



For the first time in Massachusetts a special drive was undertaken to completely- 

 rid the State of all specimens of the so-called European black currant. In one 

 district (southeastern Massachusetts) the entire field season was devoted to this 

 special project, while in three other districts a definite beginning was made. This 

 work involved the examination of approximately 107,000 properties where such 

 plants might be under cultivation. These inspections entailed a canvass in 65 

 townships in the State, and resulted in locating and destroying 1,.334 patches of 

 black currants containing in all l'-2.1J)0 plants. This work will greatly retard the 

 spread of the rust, because it will prevent the development of new local centers 

 of infection which would result from the continued cultivation of this particularly 

 susceptible variety of Ribes. The co-operation of 859 individual owners who 

 responded to the request of the division to destroy all such plants was most helpful 

 in the prosecution of this phase of the season's work. 



During the year, the stage of the rust as it develops on the white pine host was 

 noted for the first time in "25 additional townships in Massachusetts. To date 

 (November 30. 1930) therefore, the disease on the pine host has reached 310 of 

 the 355 cities and towns in the State. In the annual examination of the pine- 

 producing nurseries in Massachusetts, very little evidence of the disease was noted. 

 Infected pines were found in three nurseries, involving in all only nine specimens. 



Through the instrumentality of this division, the Federal plant quarantine 

 authorities amended the blister rust quarantine (No. 63) effective June 5, 1930, 

 by adding the State of New York to the area in which five-needled pines can be 

 shipped under permit by our nurserymen. This change was made in recognition 

 of the fact that the blister rust is now present in New York State as generally 

 as it is in the New England area, and, therefore, in accordance with accepted 

 quarantine policy. New York State should not remain in a separate area. In 

 connection with this same quarantine, the division issued during the year 11'2 

 permits involving the shipment into the State of 2,624 red or white currant and 

 790 gooseberry plants. In addition, 13 similar tags were granted permitting the 

 entry of 1,372 white pine seedlings and transplants. 



The division has continued with its policy of endeavoring to insure as adequate 

 protection as possible to the white pine stock being produced in the commercial 

 nurseries in the State, by eliminating from the environs of such areas, all currant 

 and gooseberry plants. In accordance with this policy, control work was per- 

 formed in protection zones surrounding two additional nurseries and re-examina- 

 tions were made in connection with two other nurseries where initial control work 

 was performed previously. In the areas re-examined, conditions were found to 

 be very satisfactory, indicating the possibility of successfully protecting nursery- 

 grown pines from this disease. 



The blister rust educational, service, and control activities in Massachusetts 

 during the fiscal year 1930 were conducted under the direction of C. C. Perry, 

 with the assistance of the following district agents, namely: E. M. Brockway, 

 William Clave, G. S. Doore, W. T. Roop, and R. E. Wheeler, and 29 temporary 

 employees engaged during the field season. Mr. W. J. Endersbee, formerly 

 agent in the Berkshire district, resigned March 15, to accept the position of Asso- 

 ciate Forester at the St. Lawrence University in New York State. 



The Director at this time wishes to express his appreciation for the services 

 rendered by Mr. C. C. Perry, who has not only had full charge of the white pine 

 blister rust work, but has assisted in the general work of the division. 



REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, SOIL SURVEY AND 



FAIRS 



Reclamation Work 

 Reclamation of waste areas in Massachusetts for agricultural purposes has not 

 been a pressing need of the commonwealth during the past year. It is generally 

 recognized that while half a million acres of our state is marsh land and possibly 



