REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. XCIX 



WORK OF LESS IMMEDIATE IMPORTANCE. 



The other work may be summarized as follows: Studies of the 

 insects affecting the violet, rose, and other ornamental plants have 

 been completed. Extensive work has been carried on in regard to 

 scale insects and experimental work with remedies has been conducted. 

 The subject of the investigation of insects as carriers of diseases of 

 human beings has been carried on, and much attention has been given 

 to mosquitoes and house flies in this connection. 



In cooperation with the Bureau of Soils, some work has been done 

 looking toward the reclamation of brackish marshes which are breed- 

 ing places of mosquitoes, and the studies of flies have indicated not 

 only the importance of these creatures in the carriage of internal 

 diseases, such as typhoid fever, but have indicated the cheapest and 

 best remedies. Observations on insects affecting forest trees have 

 been carried on during the year, and extended studies have been made 

 of the codling-moth problem in the Northwest and of the Mexican 

 cotton-boll weevil of Texas, information being obtained in both cases 

 which promises practical results of very considerable importance. 

 Extended studies were made during the summer of 1900 of the insects 

 affecting citrus trees and fruits in southern California and a practical 

 article detailing results was published in the Yearbook for that year. 

 Experiments with remedies were conducted that included a series of 

 experiments with washes against the scale insects and with fumigants 

 both against scale insects and in storehouses, granaries, and tobacco 

 establishments. An investigation has been made of a supposed insect 

 damage to the cocoa-palm industry' in Cuba. In apiculture compara- 

 tive tests have been made of different races of bees and of methods 

 employed in rearing queen bees. 



work of 1902. 



Work for the fiscal year 1902 is already well under way. The 

 investigation of the codling moth in the Northwest, as authorized by 

 Congress, and of the Mexican cotton-boll weevil in Texas, also author- 

 ized by Congress, will be carried on through the whole year. The 

 South African grasshopper fungus will receive further severe practical 

 tests. Search for the original home of the San Jose scale will be con- 

 tinued. Advisory work with regard to the extermination of breeding 

 places of mosquitoes will be continued, as well as many minor lines of 

 inquiry. 



OFFICE OF PUBLIC ROAD INQUIRIES. 



OBJECT OF THE WORK. 



In the establishment and maintenance of this Office the object has 

 been to promote the improvement of the public roads throughout the 

 United States. With that end in view, efforts were first directed to 



