142 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION 



urged their use until, in many instances, growers of potatoes are 

 using them in place of the old remedy- As a result many of them are 

 paying much more for their insecticides than is necessary. 



NECESSITY FOR A MONTANA LAW REGARDING ADULTERATED 

 INSECTICIDES. 



We have had a number of complaints from different parts of the 

 State, indicating that adulterated or misbranded insecticides and 

 fungicides were on sale, and we wish to call attention to the harm 

 that results from such sale. In the first place, the farmer who buys 

 and uses such inferior goods is defrauded and fails to save his crop. 

 The cost of the insecticides is usually very small compared with the 

 saving resulting from their proper use. In the second place, the 

 farmer who unwittingly uses adulterated goods, too often gains the 

 impression that no benefit results from such spraying, becomes 

 discouraged, and may for years make no further effort to control the 

 same pest. 



The federal law regarding adulterated and misbranded insecti- 

 cides, known as the "Insecticide Act of iqio", takes effect January 

 ist, 191 1, and amply provides for the protection of the country with 

 /espect to insecticides and fungicides that enter into interstate com- 

 merce. It is highly desirable that a state law be enacted, framed on 

 the same lines as the national law, in order that the State may re- 

 v eive the further protection affored by preventing the manufacture 

 and distribution of adulterated and misbranded products within its 

 lines. We recommend that such a law be enacted during the com- 

 ing session of the legislature. At the present time practically no 

 insecticides or fungicides are manufactured in the State except for 

 home use and there would be no opposition to the passage of the law, 

 while there is at least a possibility that manufacturers might move 

 into the State if there were no law preventing such fraudulent prac- 

 tices. 



WORK OF THE PAST TWO YEARS. 



The activities of the State Entomologist during the past two 

 years are included under the following: — 



(a) Work on the oyster shell scale, including a critical studv of 



