P.D. 123 19 



In Barnstable, Essex, Middlesex and Worcester Counties, work of canvassing 

 properties for the purpose of locating and eliminating plants of the European 

 black currant was continued. It has been deemed necessary to eliminate these 

 plants on a State-wide basis, because of their exceptional susceptibility to the rust. 

 The owners of such plants have given the Division almost unanimous cooperation 

 in this special control work. The canvass during the 1933 field season involved 

 58,666 inspections in 37 townships where black currants numbering 2,181 plants 

 were found in 552 locations. 



As a result of inspections made during the year, it is quite apparent that con- 

 tinued and more effective work is needed in maintaining suitable Ribes-free pro- 

 tection zones in the surroundings of those commercial nurseries in the State where 

 white pines are being produced. In other words, funds have not been sufficient to 

 adequately estabhsh control conditions and increased efforts will be needed. 



During the last week in November, the Division was called upon to prepare a 

 plan for a blister rust control project under the Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) 

 an emergency activity created under the National Industrial Recovery Act. In 

 spite of the fact that the winter is not the time of year when large numbers of men 

 can be employed on blister rust control work, a three-fold project was prepared 

 and approved and the first crews started work on November 27. This emergency 

 work involved the elimination of diseased pine branches or entire trees where 

 infected with a trunk canker, the mapping of prospective control areas, and 

 the continuance of the canvass to locate specimens of European Black Currants. 

 Details of this activity will be recorded in the report for the next fiscal year. 



Apiary Inspection 



Activities in apiary inspection have continued without change of policy, although 

 they were somewhat restricted by the reduced appropriation. Five deputy in- 

 spectors were emploj^ed; one less than the previous year. These men carry out the 

 field work, being assigned respectively to Berkshire County, the Connecticut 

 Valley, Worcester and western Middlesex Counties, northern Middlesex and Essex 

 Counties, and the counties south of Boston. 



Thus the entire State is kept under observation, although the major part of the 

 inspection has been conducted east and southeast of Worcester County. The end 

 in view has been to gradually extend the areas now under control. 



American foulbrood has been encountered principally. Being the more tenacious 

 brood disease, sterner measures are required for its control, than those for European 

 foulbrood, now seldom encountered. Wherever intensive inspection has been 

 possible, improvement in apiary conditions is apparent. It is becoming increas- 

 ingly obvious, however, that the time is close at hand, when it will be necessary to 

 reinspect areas alreadj^ brought under control, for the purpose of maintaining this 

 control. Reoccurrances of disease and new foci, restricted at first, appear to be 

 inevitable. It is of the utmost importance to be enabled to inspect and discover 

 these at their inception, so as to prevent their extension in the already cleaned areas. 



The demand for bees in orchard practice is maintained ; perhaps it is even greater. 

 There is a noticeable swing toward the use of colony bees, instead of package bees, 

 although vast quantities of the latter are used, being shipped each May from 

 apiaries in the south. The situation suggests a fortunate opportunity for the 

 Massachusetts beekeeper to perfect means of supplying ample colony bees for 

 Massachusetts fruit growers. 



REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, SOIL SURVEY AND 



FAIRS 



Massachusetts Fairs in 1933 

 The agricultural fairs in Massachusetts showed a marked improvement this year 

 over last, both from an attendance and financial standpoint. Most fairs not only 

 paid their operating expenses but also showed a small profit. This most satis- 

 factory result was due to two reasons; first, a reduction in operating expenses and 

 second, a small increase in receipts from gate and grandstand. Figures compiled 

 on a State-wide basis indicate that receipts increased approximately 8 per cent 

 in 1933 over 1932 while operating expenses were reduced approximately 10 per cent. 



