1908.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 25 



One of the most important lines of experiment during the past 

 year has been the effort to determine the best methods of con- 

 trolling thrips, which so often cause the blight of the onion. 

 Spraying with kerosene emulsion appears to be the most prom- 

 ising method. The principal difficulty appears to be the pro- 

 duction of a machine which will spray a number of rows at once 

 in a sufficiently thorough manner to destroy most of the insects. 

 No perfectly satisfactory machine has yet been invented. 



The report makes brief mention of experiments to determine 

 better methods of destroying the San Jose scale, and the work 

 with cranberry insects at Wareham. Further observations on 

 the oriental moth are presented, and fortunately these indicate 

 that this insect is not likely to become a serious pest. Atten- 

 tion is called to the fact that investigations have been begun to 

 determine the exact geographical distribution of injurious in- 

 sects. This work would seem to be particularly important, as 

 Massachusetts is close to the northern limit of the distribution 

 of some and near the southern limit of others. The report con- 

 cludes with a presentation of observations upon the insects of 

 the year. 



Veterinary Department. — The report of the veterinarian 

 presents an account of two serious outbreaks of disease among 

 poultry. The first of these was European chicken cholera, 

 which was found in two flocks. The identity of the disease 

 was proved by careful microscopic investigations and inocula- 

 tions. The owners of the affected flocks were promptly in- 

 formed of the serious character of the disease, and, co-operat- 

 ing heartily with the veterinarian as they did, its prompt 

 suppression was effected, and fortunately the disease did not 

 spread from these flocks, which might easily have been centers 

 of infection. 



The other outbreak was found in a flock of chickens raised 

 in brooders upon bare, sandy soil. It produced serious lesions 

 of the feet and legs, and invariably proved fatal. The disease 

 was found not to be infectious in character, and promptly dis- 

 appeared when the chickens were moved to a more fertile loca- 

 tion, where the growth of vegetation afforded some shade. It 

 appears to have been due to the effects of the intense sunshine, 

 aggravated by the character of the soil upon which the chickens 



