No. 123.] PLANT PEST CONTROL. 77 



Dorchester, Squantum and Quincy. We are very glad at all 

 times to receive specimens for identification, and to do all we 

 can toward recommending or even supervising control measures. 



White Pine Blister Rust. 



The present status of the white pine blister rust in this 

 country presents a situation which is both discouraging and 

 encouraging. It is discouraging because the disease has become 

 generally distributed in New England, northeastern New York 

 State, and in sections of Wisconsin and Minnesota, and has 

 just been reported for the first time in the Pacific Northwest 

 in the State of W^ashington. Even the most skeptical are willing 

 to admit that the disease has proven particularly fatal to young 

 white pines, — the type which is of prime importance in any 

 consideration of the production of the pine crop of the future. 

 The encouraging phase of the situation, however, is that inten- 

 sive experimental work has demonstrated that the further 

 spread of the disease can be prevented effectively and at a 

 reasonable cost by the systematic destruction of the currant 

 and gooseberry bushes that may be growing on or within 900 

 feet of pine-producing lands. 



The real problem in the situation, however, is one of educa- 

 tion. In other words, the average pine owner has no knowledge 

 of the nature and characteristics of the disease, the damage it 

 may do, and the comparatively simple methods by which its 

 further spread can be prevented. In appreciation of this fact, 

 a new^ policy, effective May 1, 1922, was formulated for the 

 conduct of blister rust control work. In accordance with this 

 plan, the L^nited States Department of Agriculture, through 

 the Office of Blister Rust Control, agreed to conduct an inten- 

 sive educational campaign by the assignments of Federal agents 

 to the more important pine-producing counties throughout 

 the State. The State Department, in carrying out its obliga- 

 tion, agreed to aid pine owners in the performance of control 

 w^ork by furnishing a number of men to assist the educational 

 agents in the work of inspecting pine lands. 



For purposes of administration the State has been divided 

 into 9 districts, and 8 Federal agents have been assigned this 

 year. These men have been assisted by 21 temporary em- 

 ployees cf this Division, acting in the capacity of scouts, crew 

 foremen or supervisors of control work. Through the courtesy 



