P.D. 123 15 



There is a widespread interest in the Caucasian race of bees, particularly 

 for orchard purposes. Many claims, often unsupported by experimental evidence, 

 are made for the superiority of this race. The question is raised, — is it resistant 

 to European foulbrood? This is as yet unanswerable from experimentation. 

 Formerly, in Massachusetts, European foulbrood thrived in colonies of the old- 

 time, so-called "Native", black, German bee and in colonies of the "hybrid" 

 Italian bee. The success with which European foulbrood has been stamped 

 out in this State, is attributed to the Department's recommendation that bee- 

 keepers improve their stock by usino: disease-resistant, Italian strains. Certainly, 

 the introduction of another race of bees susceptible to European foulbrood is 

 to be avoided. Beekeepers are being urged to use due caution until the Cauca- 

 sian race can be tested and proven to resist the disease. 



White Pine Blister Rust Work 



The white pine blister rust disease in Massachusetts continues to be a major 

 plant pest control problem. The prosecution of an intensive although non- 

 specular informational and service campaign since 1922 has resulted in the stimu- 

 lation of an active location interest in the problem and the Department has 

 assisted thousands of owners in protecting their white pine holdings by the 

 elimination of wild and cultivated Ribes (currant and gooseberry bushes), the 

 alternate host plants of this fungus disease. This cooperative effort has virtually 

 accomplished the initial protection of the white pine areas in the State and has 

 been the means of reducing the damage that might otherwise have resulted. The 

 problem now is to make such re-examinations within control areas as may be 

 needed to eliminate recurring Ribes before further damage results. Experience 

 has shown that in many woodland areas seedling currant and gooseberry bushes 

 develop so that in from five to seven years after initial control work, re-examina- 

 tion of control areas is imperative. The persisting plants by that time have 

 developed into larger and menacing bushes. 



The State appropriation for control work during the fiscal year 1934 was 

 drastically reduced, but through the allotment of a sizeable appropriation from 

 the National Industrial Recovery Administration (NIRA) for Public Works 

 activities, the work was continued on about the same basis as in 1933. With the 

 combined funds available 802,548 wild Ribes were eliminated from 115,031 acres. 

 It was also necessary to destroy 1,581 cultivated bushes. 



In addition to the activities under the State and NRA appropriations, the 

 Department cooperated with the Federal Emergency Conservation Work (ECW) 

 authorities in connection with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps. 

 Control work was under way at 9 camps and resulted in clearing 288,542 wild 

 and 1,591 cultivated Ribes from 8,101 acres of land in our State forests. 



The special work in connection with the plan to eliminate all European black 

 currant bushes in Massachusetts was continued in 32 townships. In these cities 

 and towns 218,129 properties were inspected and 1,712 plantings of black 

 currents found. The work was not completed in two towns, but 8,838 bushes 

 were destroyed in the 30 towns completed. As evidence of the cooperation which 

 the Department is receiving in this particular phase of blister rust control work, 

 it is interesting to note that 85% of the owners involved removed their black 

 currant bushes without assistance from the field personnel. 



Mention should be made of the work performed in connection with the Civil 

 Works Administration (CWA) activities during the winter of 1933-34. A 

 special blister rust control project was approved on November 23, 1933. On 

 April 1, 1934 all activities were transferred to the Emergency Relief Adminis- 

 tration (ERA) and work was ofilcially concluded on April 26. Briefly the 

 program provided for three sub-projects; namely, (1) Canker Elimination; 

 (2) Black Currant Canvassing; (3) Control Area Mapping. The work pro- 

 vided employment for approximately 100 laborers, 30 foremen, and State 

 Super\dsor. 



In the canker elimination sub-project, white pines on State or municipally 

 owned lands and principally in plantations, were examined for possible Wet^y 



