16 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION CIRCULAR 101 



toes and slips. The sweet potato industry in Missouri is growing rapidly 

 each year and it is just as important that this industry be protected from 

 the attack of dangerous insect pests and plant diseases as any other. The 

 Plant Inspection Service is performing a real service to the sweet potato 

 industry of the state by inspecting large quantities of both seed and slips. 

 Certificates were issued to the following sweet potato growers during 

 the year 1919-20: 



Bushman Company, Poplar Bluff Schilser, Fred, Poplar Bluff 



Davis, Silas, Poplar Bluff Shull, C. A., Neosho 



Davis, W. D., Poplar Bluff West, W. G., Poplar Bluff 



Ely & Company, H. S., Neosho Walker, W. A., Neosho 

 Peterson, H. W., Poplar Bluff 



OTHER IMPORTANT INSECT PESTS AND PLANT DISEASES 



Some of the dangerous insect pests and plant diseases which the Mis- 

 souri Plant Inspection Service is watching closely and which have not as 

 yet been introduced into Missouri are the Gypsy moth, the Brown tail 

 moth, the Bean Lady beetle, the Cotton Boll weevil, the Pink Cotton Boll 

 worm; the white pine blister rust, chestnut blight and others. 



The Gypsy moth and Brown tail moth are insects of European origin 

 which have caused millions of dollars of damage to fruit and forest trees 

 in the New England States and during the past year new outbreaks of the 

 Gypsy moth have been discovered in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Both 

 of these pests are very common in Europe and have in recent years been 

 sent to the United States in shipments of nursery stock. During the spring 

 of 1920 a shipment of apple seedlings from France arriving in Missouri was 

 found to harbor nests of the Brown tail moth. In inspecting the stock the 

 nests were found and destroyed and the shipment fumigated thus possibly 

 preventing an outbreak of the insect in Missouri. 



The Bean Lady beetle is a dangerous insect which is very common m 

 the Western States. It feeds upon beans and related plants. Recently it 

 was accidently introduced into Alabama where it has rapidly spread over 

 a large area of the state and caused serious losses. 



The Cotton Boll weevil has spread from Mexico over practically the 

 entire cotton growing region of the United States but has not as yet gained 1 

 access into Missouri. 



The Pink Cotton Boll worm just recently has been found in Texas and 

 Louisiana where it is causing very serious damage and large sums of 

 money are being spent in an effort to eradicate it. It was introduced from 

 Mexico and is the most serious cotton pest known. 



Both the white pine blister rust and the chestnut blight have caused 

 very serious losses in the eastern part of the United States and on account 

 of these diseases it is unlawful to ship certain kinds of nursery stock sub- 

 ject to infection from the infected regions. 



The Missouri Plant Inspection Service is watching closely these and 

 other dangerous insect pests and plant diseases with the object in view of 

 keeping them out of Missouri, and is working towards the control and 

 eradication of those pests and diseases that are present. 



