18 P.D. 123 



the above practice were eliminated, there is Httle doubt but that it would be almost 

 impossible to grow sweet corn in Massachusetts. Canada and several States that 

 are not infested with this insect prohibit the importation of plant products from 

 Massachusetts unless they are accompanied by a certificate of inspection. It is, 

 therefore, necessary for this department to examine these plants and certify them. 



Japanese Beetle 



The Japanese Beetle is another imported pest which is now firmly established in 

 Massachusetts and is capable of doing considerable damage to all branches of 

 agriculture. It is a serious pest to the fruit grower, farmer, and nurseryman. The 

 adult which is a beetle, attacks both shade and fruit trees. A considerable part of 

 this insect's life is passed within the ground as a grub, and in that stage feeds on 

 the roots of trees and grasses. In this form, if the beetle population is heavy it 

 may be injurious to golf courses and especially troublesome to nurserjmien. 



A careful inspection was made in the nurseries and the property surrounding 

 them, to determine whether or not this insect was present. The findings were one 

 beetle. However, this was not found on nursery stock. This pest has been found 

 in all the New England States, and in order for nurserymen to make shipments of 

 stock from the infested area to points outside or for farmers and florists to ship 

 corn, beans, berries, or cut flowers, they must have the stock certified. At the 

 present time this insect is causing very little damage in Massachusetts, but, if the 

 degree oi infestation increases, it is possible that injurj^ to some crops and trees will 

 be manifested. This pest, however, is easy to control; the adult by spraying with 

 arsenate of lead, and as a grub by treating the soil either with arsenate of lead or 

 carbon bisulphide. 



White Pine Blister Rust Control 



The Di\'ision continued to enlist the cooperation of property owners in protecting 

 the white pine forests of the Commonwealth from further damage by the white 

 pine ])lister rust. This fungous disease of white pine trees and Ribes (currant and 

 gooseberry bushes) is now (November 30, 1933) known to have attacked white 

 pines in 343 of the 355 cities and towns in the State, and continued vigilance will 

 be needed for some time to come to keep the disease in check. 



The attempt to continue so far as possible, the policy of securing the eradication 

 of Ribes through the cooperation of local pine and Ribes owners was not an easy 

 task during 1933. Economic conditions had depressed pine values and had also 

 reduced the incomes of many owners to the point where expenditures for other 

 than the necessities of life were not possible. However, 567 pine and Ribes owners 

 were willing to cooperate and participated in the exa^nination of 81,980 acres of 

 land. From this area 252,611 wild Ribes were cleared and it was found necessary 

 to destroy 2,820 cultivated Ribes. 



Early in the field season, we were called upon to assist in the Emergency Con- 

 servation Work (E. C. W.) activities by the assigimient of trained men to ten of 

 the Civilian Conservation Corps (C. C. C.) camps in Massachusetts. Six ex- 

 perienced foremen were selected from our temporary personnel. At each camp, 

 one fir two crews of five men and a sub-foreman were selected from the enrolled 

 personnel and then trained in control methods. Much might be recorded regarding 

 this work, but suffice it to say that the work actually accomphshed was well and 

 thoroughly done. State Forest areas aggravating 11,807 acres were covered by 

 these C.C.C. crews and 176,755 wild and 49 cultivated Ribes eliminated. 



In August, funds were allocated to the U. S. Department of Agriculture from the 

 appropriations provided by the National Industrial Recovery Act (N.R.A.) and a 

 small appropriation was made available for blister rust control work in Massachu- 

 setts through this Division. Obviously, it was too late in the season to expect to 

 accomplish very effective work due to the defoliation of Ribes. It was possible, 

 however, to select areas where the Ribes were holding their leaves and very good 

 results were obtained. In any event, the real need was to put men to work and 

 this was accomplished in a minor vfay, in that we were able to give part-time 

 employment to eighty-three previously unemployed laborers for a total of 7,258J/2 

 man-hours. Control work was performed on 3,320 acres of land and 124,407 wild 

 Ribes destroyed. 



