LOUISIANA CIRCULAR No. 5. 19 



of eradicating this pest from farms and plantations is well 

 known. The Commission is at present continuing the cattle tick 

 investigation, obtaining additional facts concerning the tick's 

 development in different sections and under varying conditions. 

 in order that the methods of eradication may be even more clearly 

 understood and practiced. 



An investigation of the horse-flies in Southern Louisiana has 

 been under way for some time, the Commission having secured in 

 this work the assistance of one of the best known authorities upon 

 this group of insects in the United States. The problems pre- 

 sented in connection with the development of the different spe- 

 cies are exceedingly difficult of solution, and while several years 

 of study will be required before fully satisfactory means of con- 

 trol can be devised, the facts already obtained are of considerable 

 economic value and will be given in a circular now being pre- 

 pared for publication. 



Investigations of other insect pests, which cause in the 

 aggregate losses of many thousands of dollars annually in Louisi- 

 ana, are being made. It is, however, sufficient in this con- 

 nection to call attention to the fact that as the territory infested 

 by the boll weevil increases, and as the present infested area 

 approaches a state of maximum infestation, the warfare against 

 all of these destructive insects will become of much greater mo- 

 ment to the agriculture of the State than at present. 



The State Crop Pest Commission is still in its infancy, and 

 dealing as it is with a problem differing in many respects from 

 any that has ever confronted any similar organization, some little 

 time has necessarily been employed in perfecting methods of 

 work, in obtaining properly equipped and trained employees, in 

 organization of the work, in securing the co-operation of citizens 

 and in conducting investigations upon which to base future opera- 

 tions. 



Each year will see a material increase in our knowledge of 

 the pests which have been feasting upon the farmers' profits, and 

 all of this knowledge will ultimately be applicable in the devising 

 of remedies for these enemies. 



