No. 123.] PLANT PEST CONTROL. 79 



during; the short season. It is also interesting to note that for 

 the first time in Massachusetts the active interest of lumber- 

 men has been obtained, and plans for another year already call 

 for the practice of control work on the holdings of a number of 

 concerns interested in the lumber industry. 



In connection with the educational program, a very special 

 effort has been made to have a complete blister rust exhibit 

 at the more important community fairs throughout the State. 

 At each fair, pine owners have been urged to have their lands 

 inspected, and as a result, the names of prospective co-operators 

 have been obtained from nearly every town in the State. Ex- 

 hibits have been shown at 39 fairs. The county agricultural 

 agents have been of great assistance in connection with this 

 phase of the season's work. 



A new illustrated circular has been published during the year 

 to replace the original 2-page leaflet. A small, inexpensive card 

 has also been prepared for general distribution at fairs, the 

 larger circular being reserved for distribution direct to pine 

 owners. 



At the beginning of the year blister rust as previously re- 

 ported within the State seemed to be confined particularly to 

 several rather well-defined areas, in which the condition might 

 be described as local-general-infection, meaning that the disease 

 can be found quite extensively within a township or any large 

 portion thereof. Such areas are found in sections of Berkshire, 

 Essex, Hampden and Plymouth counties. In addition to these 

 areas there are scattered spot infections consisting of an isolated 

 tree or groups of trees. 



On January 1, 1922, the records indicated that the disease, 

 in at least one of its stages of development, had been found 

 in 269 towns out of the total of 353 cities and towns in the 

 State, in 92 of which it had been reported on pine. Since that 

 time, however, although no extensive scouting has been in 

 progress, the disease as it appears on pine, has been found in 

 32 additional towns. In Essex County infection on pine has 

 been found in every pine lot examined this year, and has been 

 reported in all but 7 of the cities and towns in the county. 

 In Plymouth County the disease has been reported in every 

 township. In northern Worcester County infection has been 

 so abundant on Ribes for the last two years that there must 

 be a serious pine infection area somewhere in that section of 



