18 P.D. 123 



incoming shipments of 2,825 white pine seedlings or transplants. One per- 

 mit was issued to cover a shipment of white pine branches for use in Christ- 

 mas greenery. 



At the close of the 1931 field season, initial examinations for Ribes had 

 been practically completed in the principal white pine growing districts of 

 the State and approximately three-fourths of the State area had been can- 

 vassed in connection with the black currant elimination project. Although 

 the work which has already been done has been effective in temporarily 

 checking the spread of the disease, and thus preventing for the time being 

 increased damage to white pine, field experience and experimental work 

 during the initial program, have demonstrated that there is a continuing 

 problem in maintaining adequate control. This results from the recurrence 

 of wild Ribes in control areas and an occasional instance of replanting of 

 cultivated Ribes. This will necessitate the re-examination of areas where 

 conditions favorable to a continued spread of the disease appear to exist. 

 Such check-up work can only be accomplished under some sort of guidance 

 such as has been furnished by this division and the representatives of the 

 co-operating Federal office, during the initial control effort. 



The co-operative blister rust control activities of the year have been 

 planned and supervised by Messrs. Earle M. Brockway, William Clave, G. 

 Stanley Doore, William T. Roop, and Ralph E. Wheeler, under the direction 

 of Mr. C. C. Perry, who represents this Division and the Bureau of Plant 

 Industry of the United States Department of Agriculture under a formal 

 co-operative agreement. 



Mr. C. C. Perry has had the supervision of the white pine blister rust work 

 and his assistance and co-operation at all times have been greatly appre- 

 ciated. 



REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, SOIL SURVEY 



AND FAIRS 

 Reclamation Work 



There have been several requests relative to the reclaiming of farm lands 

 for agricultural purposes which the Department has answered either by 

 personal visitation or by correspondence. For the most part, however, 

 there seems to be comparatively no interest in or need for further reclamation 

 work as it relates to the utilization of waste lands. Greater need seems 

 apparent in the better use of lands already in crops or the better adaptation 

 of such lands in other crops. The report of the State Reclamation Board 

 in another section of this bulletin will give more in detail the work that 

 has been in progress during the year in the drainage of marsh areas. 



Soil Survey Activities 

 During the year there were several requests for specific soil survey reports 

 of work already completed. The Valley county reports have not as yet 

 been fully summarized, although the Department expects to receive the 

 Hampden and Hampshire county reports from the federal department at 

 an early date in 1932. 



Agricultural Fairs 



Agricultural organizations sponsoring fairs and exhibits made consid- 

 erable progress on the kind and quality of exhibits shown. There was an 

 increase in the number of cattle exhibited and while hall exhibits were 

 about 5 per cent less in quantity than for 1930 the quality and arrangement 

 were far superior. Attendance at the fairs was 14 per cent under the pre- 

 vious year, undoubtedly due to general business conditions as well as the 

 infantile paralysis scare. Fair organizations are paying more and more 

 attention to expenses, the better arrangement of exhibits, the comfort and 

 convenience of their patrons, and in general putting their organization upon 

 a more efficient business basis. The work done and number and quality 

 of exhibits shown by the young people are most encouraging. The Depart- 

 ment has co-operated with the junior department of the State Extension 

 Service in promoting Camp Gilbert at Amherst as well as a leader training 



