18 



for their intelligent and satisfactory answer considerable study 

 .-UK! reference 1<> literature, and it not infrequently happens that 

 letters of from five to fifteen pages have to be written in response 

 to inquiries concerning a single insect, in order that the core- 

 spondent may be enabled to combat it successfully, safely and 

 economically. 



The writing of these letters, keeping them properly fikd 

 and indexed for ready reference, etc., has required the greater 

 part of the time of the clerk and stenographer. The remainder 

 of the clerk's time has been devoted to keeping itemized accounts 

 of all expenditures made by the Commission and its employees 

 and to securing proper receipts and vouchers supporting these 

 expenditures. A very marked and rapid increase in the number 

 of inquiries for information coming to the office is evident, and 

 if this increase continues the employment of an additional stenog- 

 rapher will become necessary. 



In the laboratory considerable microscopic and similar work 

 is necessary in the identification of various insects that are sent 

 in by farmers and fruit growers. In order to determine the 

 identity of insects promptly and with certainty, and also to 

 serve in illustrating talks before meetings of horticulturists, 

 planters, etc., a good collection of identified insects is much 

 needed. This the Commission is preparing as rapidly as possible, 

 although the immense amount of routine and office work, together 

 with the work of visiting different localities to make investiga- 

 tions at the request of business men and farmers,"has prevented 

 giving this line of work very much attention. 



At the November, 1905, meeting of the Commission, the 

 S.-rn-tary was instructed to transfer the office of the Commission 

 from Shiweport to Baton Rouge, the latter being a more central 

 location, and, in addition, being the legal domicile of the Com- 

 mission: and the State Experiment Station, through its Director, 

 Prof. W. R. Dodson, having tendered the use of office and labora- 

 tory room in the Experiment Station Building free of rent to 

 the Commission. Had the office remained at Shreveport the 

 coming year, much more office and laboratory room would have 

 been ^ absolutely necessary, requiring the payment of a rather 

 large rental. By the removal of the office to Baton Rouge this 



