22 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



of potato beetles in many sections and some slight showing of 

 cabbage and vegetable pests. 



In spite of the wet weather there was an abundance of red 

 spiders on many out-of-door crops. Orchard insects were not 

 as abundant, although aphis caused considerable damage early 

 in the season. Codling moths, too, were bad in most of the 

 apple sections. 



One encouraging feature of the insect situation is that some 

 of our imported insects seem to be getting nearer a balance 

 where their own enemies control them in this country; particu- 

 larly is this true of the brown-tail moth and elm-leaf beetle, 

 both of which have not been as bad the last two or three years 

 as formerly. Many of the parasites and diseases of our im- 

 ported insects have been brought into the country recently, 

 and the effect of their work is now being noticed materially. 



The White Pine Blister Rust. 



The appearance of the white pine blister rust in this country 

 in 1908 led in 1910 to a direct quarantine on all five-leafed 

 pines coming from foreign countries. In spite of this fact the 

 disease has secured quite a definite foothold, and its continued 

 discovery has led to joint action by the several States, looking 

 toward steps for control. 



A bill was introduced calling for an appropriation of $10,000 

 which, through the aid of the Massachusetts Forestry Associa- 

 tion and others interested, was enacted, and the work started in 

 the spring of 1916, with Dr. H. T. Fernald in charge and Dr. 

 James F. Martin as his deputy. Dr. Fernald's report will cover 

 the details of the work. 



The Nation-wide seriousness of the situation led to the forma- 

 tion of an interstate committee on the white pine blister rust, 

 and the secretary was chosen chairman. It was due to this 

 committee's work that much of the information relative to this 

 disease was spread about. The committee has had several meet- 

 ings, and at the most recent one in Albany, New York, over 15 

 States, as well as Canada and the United States Department of 

 Agriculture, were represented. Many problems connected with 

 the question were discussed, and the following recommendations 

 made: — 



