Helping the Farmers 



83 



Cuban type of filler has also been tried 

 in Ohio. The most important work in 

 Ohio, however, has been the further in- 

 troduction of the bulk method of fer- 

 menting cigar tobaccos. Over 655,000 

 pounds were fermented in 1902, over 

 4,000,000 in 1903. while in 1904 the 

 quantity so fermented exceeded 10,000,- 

 000 pounds. Considerable demand has 

 been made the past year upon the Bu- 

 reau to assist the growers of the heavy 

 export types. Experiments have been 

 undertaken to grow the tobacco with 

 different fertilizers and under different 

 methods of culture to see which will 

 give the best financial results. It is yet 

 too early to give the results of the pres- 

 ent season's work. 



SHADE-GROWN TOBACCO 



In 1903 the Department of Agricul- 

 ture had practically ceased its work in 

 Connecticut in the production of shade- 

 grown tobacco, but in 1904 it conducted 

 an experiment at Tariffville, Conn., 

 where a crop has been produced on a 

 4-acre plat. Tobacco of this type was 

 exhibited at the Louisiana Purchase 

 Exposition and received a grand prize 

 as a leaf of the highest excellence for 

 cigar wrappers. The Secretary presents 

 a table which shows that 134 bales of 

 Connecticut shade-grown tobacco have 

 been sold for domestic use at an average 

 price of $1.26 plus, the highest price 

 obtained being $1 . 75 per pound for light 

 wrappers. One hundred and forty-four 

 bales were sold for export at an average 

 of $0.34. 



EXPERIMENTAL WORK IN COMBAT- 

 ING THE COTTON BOLL WEEVIL 



The most important work of the Bu- 

 reau of Entomology during the year has 

 been its combat with the Mexican cot- 

 ton boll weevil. Under the provisions 

 of the special appropriation of $250,000, 

 made available January, 1904, this work 

 was greatly enlarged. Over a thousand 

 acres, divided among thirteen experi- 

 mental farms, were devoted to experi- 



mental work, and it is believed that the 

 cultural system these farms were de- 

 signed to illustrate has so far proved 

 to be the only practicable means of con- 

 trolling the weevil. This is the out- 

 growth of several years of experimenta- 

 tion. 



COLONIZATION OF THE GUATEMALAN 

 ANT 



The discovery of the Guatemalan ant 

 and its colonization in Texas is a feature 

 of distinct encouragement. The emi- 

 nent danger of the spread of the weevil, 

 however, to other States indicates the 

 necessity of continued active and ener- 

 getic work on the part of the general 

 government. 



MEANS OF COMBATING THE BOLL- 

 WORM 



Field experiments have demonstrated 

 that the cultural system of control rec- 

 ommended for the boll weevil furnishes 

 the very best means also against the 

 bollworm. Spraying and dusting with 

 arsenical potions and the value of truck 

 crops have been made the subject of 

 careful experiments, and the depart- 

 ment is now able to recommend meas- 

 ures which will greatly reduce damage 

 from this pest. 



BENEFICIAL INSECTS 



The possibility of keeping injurious 

 insects in check by the introduction of 

 their natural insect enemies is a popular 

 subject with fruit growers and farmers, 

 and notable success has been achieved 

 in this direction. 



STUDY OF INSECTS DAMAGING 

 FORESTS 



The general information gained from 

 the study of insects damaging forests, 

 carried on both in the field and in the 

 laboratory, has greatly advanced the 

 knowledge of forest insects and the 

 means of controlling them. An expert 

 has been placed in charge of investiga- 

 tions of insecticides, and fumigation 



