THE PINE INVESTIGATION. 303 



and that so much of the funds contributed by the respective lumber com- 

 panies as may not be expended in the work be returned to them pro rata, 

 should there be any remaining after the experiment has been made. 



3d. Ordered, that those companies who have, or will contribute their 

 pro rata to the expenses of the experiment shall be first considered in 

 the distribution of these insect parasites, and that the bulk of the im- 

 ported insects shall be distributed upon the property of these several com- 

 panies. 



In accordance with these orders you will please make arrangements as 

 soon as possible to proceed to Europe to carry out the objects of the above 

 orders. Large latitude is given you in regard to the selection of points to 

 be visited, the principal object of the trip being to accomplish successful 

 results. The neceesary funds not exceeding $600 will be placed subject to 

 your order to enable you to meet the legitimate expenses of the trip, and to 

 employ such help in Europe and to purchase such cases, apparatus, etc., 

 as may be necessary for you to successfully carry out the objects of the 

 expedition. It is not presumed that the time required for you to accom- 

 plish the objects of the trip will be more than six to eight weeks, and the 

 necessary leave of absence from the Station is hereby granted. 



JOHN A. MYERS, Director. 



ACCOUNT OF MISSION TO EUROPE. 



Upon the receipt of the Director's instructions the necessary 

 preparations for the journey were made and I left Morgantown 

 on August 16th, sailed from New York on the 17th, and arrived 

 in Strassburg, Germany, on the 27th, via Liverpool, London, 

 New Haven, Dieppe, and Paris. The next day after arriving 

 in Strassburg, I called on Oberforester W. Eichhoff at his home, 

 and obtained from him valuable information and important 

 official documents, by means of which 1 was to have both un- 

 restricted access to the Emperor's forests, and the co-operation 

 of the forest officials in furthering the objects of the mission. 

 This, unexpected and exceedingly kind and thoughtful provision 

 for the undelayed prosecution of the work was most encourag- 

 ing, but Mr. Eichhoif's expressions of doubt as to the possibili- 

 ties of finding the desired insects in any quanity, and especially 

 in the desired condition for successful transportation to 

 America, was equally discouraging. I told him, that I espec- 

 ially desired to find a section in the pine and spruce forests 

 where the trees had been recently injured by storms or other 

 causes, and I was pleased to learn from him of two localities 

 where the desired conditions would probably be found, one in 

 the extensive forests of Pinus sylevstris, near flagenau, in 

 Elsass, the other in the white spruce -forests of the Vosges 



