16 P.D. 123 



The Division has a voluminous correspondence with bird lovers, not only from 

 every section of the State, but many states outside of the Commonwealth. The 

 monthly bulletin "Items of Interest" is quite generally read and is well received, 

 as indicated by quotations in newspapers, and from its ever-increasing list of 

 readers and contributors. Several hundred illustrated lectures were given during 

 the j^ear by members of the Division. In the past numerous bulletins on economic 

 ornithology have been prepared and published. Many of these bulletins are now 

 unavailable, and a few need rewriting and pubhcation. "The Utility of Birds", 

 an eighty-four page pamphlet issued in 1921, is used by schools quite generally as 

 a textbook on economic ornithology^ but is now out of print and might well be 

 revised in the hght of present-day information, reprinted and sold at a nominal 

 sum. The same statement is true in relation to the larger work on "Useful Birds 

 and Their Protection". 



New Publications in Demand 

 The new book "Portraits of New England Birds" was published during the year. 

 This is a collection of the ninety-two full color plates by Fuertes and Brooks, and 

 one plate by Dr. May, Director of this Division, compiled from the three volumes 

 of the "Birds of Massachusetts", and printed as a single volume, without descrip- 

 tive text. Ten thousand copies were printed in September, and it is a testimonial 

 to the popularity of the volume that a third of the issue was distributed within the 

 first four months. The sale of this new book has stimulated the sale of the original 

 three volumes to such an extent that in all probability these editions will be ex- 

 hausted before very long. 



Exhibit Material Prepared 

 Bird exhibits illustrating the value of birds in the vegetable garden and on the 

 cranberry bog were prepared and shown in the Department's exhibit in the State 

 buildings at both Brockton and the Eastern States Exposition at West Springfield. 

 These exhibits aroused much interest and were the means of furthering one of the 

 main objectives of the work of the Divibion of Ornithology, — the dissemination of 

 information about the economic relation of birds to the agriculture of the Com- 

 monwealth. 



REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF PLANT PEST CONTROL 



Nursery Inspection 



The duties in the Division of Plant Pest Control have increased greatly since the 

 time when the inspection of the nurseries was the only major problem. At this 

 time, besides double the number of nurseries to be inspected, we have in Massa- 

 chusetts serious infestations of the White Pine Blister Rust; European Corn Borer; 

 and Japanese Beetle. 



Inspection of the nurseries began early in May and was completed in October. 

 349 certificates were issued to growers of nursery stock, and 525 agents' licenses 

 granted to persons distributing and taking orders for stock. Agents for the sale 

 of nursery stock are required by law to hold licenses issued by the department and 

 good for one year. The object of this requirement is to keep an oversight of the 

 sources from which they obtain their stock, and assure the purchase of receiving 

 only clean, certified plants. The nurseries are much improved in their general 

 conditions, as compared with only a few years ago. Both San Jose and Oyster- 

 shell scale are only occasionally found, and gypsy moths, which a few years ago 

 were quite prevalent, caused very Uttle concern this year to the nurserymen. We 

 undoubtedly will, from time to time, have outbreaks of this phase in our nurseries, 

 but our practice of maintaining a clean area around each nursery will greatly assist 

 in keeping this, as well as other pests in check. 



Interstate shipments of nursery stock have decreased during the past few years. 

 Quite likely a considerable part of this business has been absorbed by our own 

 nurseries. 



European Corn Borer 



Infestations of the European Corn Borer have now been found in every county 

 in the State, and the entire State has been placed under quarantine. The Federal 



