250 ANXUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



FUMIGATIOX AS A CO^TROL METHOD FOR STORED-PRODUCT INSECTS. 



Experimental work to determine the usefulness of fumigation in 

 lessening or preventing the enormous waste taking place through 

 insect attack to stored goods in warehouses, though as yet extending 

 over only a short period, has yielded practical results of i^reat value. 



ELECTRicriY AS A CONTROL AGENT. During the past year coopera- 

 tive work has been carried on to determine the euectiveness of elec- 

 tricity as a control agent in the suppression of insects in cereals in 

 package form. A commercial machine for sterilizing cartons of 

 cereals after the latter have been sealed has been installed in a large 

 (cereal factory, Avith ever}- promise of practical value. Should expec- 

 tations be realized, the electrical treatment will result in great saving 

 both to producers and consumers. 



Cold storage as a control measure. The value of cold-storage 

 temperatures in preventing insect damage to warehoused products 

 has already been proved. Cold storage is being depended upon by 

 wholesale and retail dealers of certain classes of foods and other 

 products as the only satisfactory method of protection from insects. 

 Detailed data regarding the effect of low temperatures upon various 

 insects attacking stored products are being secured. 



Household pests. Investigation of household pests other than the 

 bedbug, flies, and mosquitoes, which was discontinued during the 

 war, has been resumed. Several pests that are believed by the gen- 

 eral pliblic to be limited to houses, as clothes moths, cockroaches, and 

 carpet beetles, have been found to be frequently very injurious to 

 valuable materials stored in warehouses throughout the country. 



Inspection and intelligence service. The arrangements made 

 during the war with the Quartermaster Department of the Army at 

 the port of New York, Avhereby the bureau has undertaken to make 

 frequent inspections of food and clothing supplies, proved so satis- 

 factory that they have remained in force and are being extended to 

 other food depots, not only of the Army but of the Navy. The pur- 

 pose of this cooperation is to keep the Quartermaster Departments 

 o:^*^ the Army and Navy informed, through inspections made by 

 bureau experts, not only of conditions of food supplies purchased and 

 delivered at the warehouses, but also of their condition from time to 

 time during the storage period. Such inspections detect and lead to 

 the checking of insect ravages before the insects have had a chance to 

 multiply and cause great loss. 



The dissemination of information regarding the suppression of 

 insects affecting stored food supplies and food products, which dur- 

 ing the past two years has monopolized the efforts of this branch 

 of the bureau work, is being continued, although the return to a 

 peace basis is making it possible to open up the new lines of research 

 indicated in preceding paragraphs. 



DECIDUOUS FRUIT INSECT INVESTIGATIONS. 



Investigations of the insects of this class have been carried out 

 under the direction of Dr. A. L. Quaintance, as formerly. 



APPLE INSECT INVESTIGATIONS. 



Codling moth. Detailed life history studies of this insect, under 

 way for some years in different parts of the country, were begun 



