P.D. 123 ' 15 



Parasites which have been imported have become established and will with- 

 out doubt prove to be a determining factor in controlling the ravages of this 

 pest. Until, however, these are present in larger numbers, we must rely 

 largely on artificial control measures. Our program of inspection, plowing 

 and burning, has been very vigorously enforced, and the results have been 

 very encouraging. On December 1 the Division had fifteen inspectors in 

 the field to report all violations of the corn borer law — where corn stubble 

 has not been destroyed. The violators were called into hearings where each 

 case was reviewed and educational instruction given. 



Recommendations for Corn Borer Control 

 On account of the practice to seed in cover crops in corn fields, especially 

 in central and western Massachusetts for the purpose of establishing a crop 

 rotation, the Department of Agriculture made the following recommendations 

 with reference to corn borer control: 



1. Modern cutting appliances that wUl cut corn stalks at the ground 

 level should be used in all cases where seeding in corn fields is practised, 

 and any corn field must be free from corn stubble to obviate the neces- 

 sity of fall ploughing. 



2. Clean culture practices with reference to weeds and other plants 

 ordinarily infested with the corn borer should be followed in an organ- 

 ized effort to maintain effective control of the corn borer. 



The provisions of the present Corn Borer Law, requiring that all corn 

 stubble be ploughed under or otherwise destroyed on or before December 1 

 of the year of its growth shall be enforced, and only in cases where corn 

 stalks have been cut to a ground level, leaving no determinable corn stubble, 

 shall the necessity of fall ploughing be obviated. 



The Division has co-operated with the Federal Government in maintaining 

 a corps of inspectors in the Boston and Worcester produce markets, and 

 also at designated points where the quarantine is enforced. 



Japanese Beetle Control Measures 



The area quarantined for the Japanese Beetle in Massachusetts at the 

 present time includes all of Bristol County and parts of Plymouth and 

 Hampden Counties, and the City of Boston. 



During the past summer, 1,200 traps were used in the City of Boston, 

 These traps were baited with geraniol, a substance that is attractive to the 

 beetles. Traps were also placed in Attleboro, Brockton, Cohasset, Fal- 

 mouth, Hyannis, New Bedford, Plymouth, Sandwich, Springfield, Wellesley, 

 and West Springfield, a total of 5,350 traps being used. A greater number 

 of beetles were collected this year than in 1930, but only one additional 

 infestation was found, that in the City of Taunton, which is already in the 

 area under quarantine. 



Soil treatment was carried on in Springfield ; the Charlestown Navy Yard ; 

 Boston Common; and in the Boston Public Gardens. This treatment was 

 in the nature of applying arsenate of lead to the soil in the hope of buUding 

 up an immune soil. 



All nurseries within the area quarantined are obliged to attach a Federal 

 tag to shipments consigned to outside points, and a record kept of each tag 

 used. This is a serious handicap, especially during the busy season. The 

 quarantined area in Hampden County has been considerably reduced, and 

 at present the larger nurseries in the county are outside the area. 



The quarantined regulations prohibit the shipment from the infested areas 

 of green corn on the cob; beans in the pod; bananas in entire bunches or 

 in clusters of twenty-five or more; apples, peaches, or berries from June 

 15 to October 15, unless a permit or certificate is attached. The regulations 

 also prohibit the shipment of nursery, ornamental and greenhouse stock, 

 and all other plants including parts of plants and cut flowers, and sand, 

 compost, and manure to points outside the area except under certification. 

 No restrictions, however, are placed on the movements between October 16 

 and June 14 of cut flowers or plants without roots. 



