SPECIAL REPORT FOR YEAR. 43 



larva of many species feed upon the roots of grasses their 

 status in relation to corn, oats, wheat, and other grains as 

 well as the native meadow grasses is a matter that could well 

 bear investigation. 



]\Ir. Chas. P. Alexander, of Cornell University, world author- 

 ity on Tipnlidct', undertook for this Station a study of seasonal 

 distribution and ecolog}^ of Maine craneflies during the sum- 

 mer of 1913. The outcome of this work was most gratifying, 

 for of the 150 or more species studied none were found which 

 would indicate that these numerous and common insects are 

 a present menace to plants of economic value in Alaine, our 

 species being mostly confined to swamplands. 



BLUEBERRY IXSECT IXVESTIGATIOXS. 



The field observations as to the insect status of the blue- 

 berry were supplemented by rearings under control conditions. 

 Among the most common pests bred from the fruit were a fly, 

 a weevil, and two moths. Parasites of the moths were abun- 

 dant. The results of one season's observations indicate that 

 the situation is well worth following up and this work is to be 

 continued through another season. It might be said that the 

 practice of burning over the blueberry barrens as is the custom 

 is highly to be commended as a means of keeping certain very 

 serious pests in check. 



Plant Pathology. 



The work in this department has been carried on during 

 19 1 3 upon much the same lines as in the past. While the dis-. 

 eases of other economic plants have been by no means ignored 

 the attention of the plant pathologists has been largely cen- 

 tered upon those which attack the apple and the potato. In 

 addition to the regular lines of investigation much valuable 

 data is accumulated each year relative to the prevalence and 

 distribution of plant diseases within the State. This work is 

 greatly facilitated by the hearty cooperation of the office of the 

 State horticulturist and the directors of extension work in the 

 College of Agriculture. It is also made much more effective 

 through cooperation with the United States Department of 

 Agriculture in connection with the plant disease survey car- 



