144 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



of the bacteriological laboratory at Pietermaritzburg, Natal, and 

 the veterinary branch of the Department of Agriculture at Cape 

 Town, and by cooperation with the bacteriological laboratory of the 

 Bureau of Animal Industry of this Department the Division was 

 able to secure a large number of subcultures, which, during the early 

 summer of 1901, were distributed to many correspondents in the 

 Western States in localities where grasshoppers appeared in enormous 

 numbers. In all, something like 190 tubes were distributed, with 

 full directions for their use, and with directions for preparing sub- 

 cultures in the field. Owing to the extreme drought, the majority 

 of the experiments were unsuccessful. One locality in Colorado 

 reports great success, three localities in Nebraska report excellent 

 results, and one in New Mexico and one in Texas also report a rea- 

 sonable amount (more or less) of success. At the time of this writing- 

 reports are still coming in, and the subject will be treated in detail 

 in the Yearbook of the Department for 1901. 



WORK ON GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE INSECTS. 



Investigations begun in previous years on insects of these classes 

 have been continued. A successful investigation of two very impor- 

 tant species — the fall army worm and the variegated cutworm — has 

 been completed, and the results will be published in Bulletin No. 29 

 (new series). 



An important publication has been prepared and issued on the 

 insects injurious to the violet, rose, and other ornamental plants, a 

 subject which had never before received competent and specific con- 

 sideration from economic entomologists. 



A technical bulletin (No. 8, technical series) was published during 

 the year, which treats monographically of the red spiders and white 

 flies of the United States, two groups of insects abundant and inju- 

 rious in greenhouses and in the field. 



WORK C(N SCALE INSECTS, 



Extensive work on these very important insects, which have gained 

 such prominence in the horticultural world since the advent of the 

 San Jose scale into the Eastern United States, has been carried on. 

 This work has been largely of a systematic kind, although much 

 experimental work with remedies has also been conducted, scale 

 insects have been sent to the office from all parts of the country, in 

 fact from all parts of the world, for examination, and a monographic 

 work upon the most destructive species is in preparation. Circular 

 No. 42 (second series), on how to control the San Jose scale, has been 

 published as the result of the remedial experimental work. Owing to 

 the fact that fruit exporters of this country have been greatly ham- 

 pered by the regulations passed by various foreign Governments 

 alarmed at the prospect of introducing the San Jose scale, there has 

 been a demand from these people for condensed and plain information 

 as to the exact effect of these foreign regulations. There was therefore 

 prepared and published during the year a circular entitled " Regula- 

 tions of foreign Governments regarding importation of American 

 plants, trees, and fruits," which has been distributed as widely as 

 possible among American exporters of these products. 



Ever since the appearance of the San Jose scale in the United States 

 the question of its original home has been a mooted one; and since 

 none of the parasitic and predatory insects of this country seem to be 

 very efficient in destroying this scale, it has become an important 



