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MONTHLY LETTER OF THE BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

| Number 102 





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CEREAL AND FORAGE INSECT INVESTIGATIONS 

W. R. Walton, Entomologist in Charge 


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At the invitation of A. W. Gilbert, Commissioner: of Agriculture 
of the State of Massachusetts, W. R. Walton visited Boston on October 
10 last in order to accompany a party of State and Federal entomolo- 
gists, legislators, and business men of Massachusetts on a tour of in- 
spection of the areas in Massachusetts most densely infested by the 
European corn borer. Among the entomologists present were Drs. H. 
feeroernald, E. P. Felt, and George G. Atwood, and Profs. A. E. 
Stene and W. C. O’Kane. State Nursery Inspector McIntire of Maine 
was also present. Messrs. L. H. Worthley, D. J. Caffrey, and other 
members of the Arlington staff accompanied the party. 
The party left the State House at Boston, Mass., about 10 a. m., 
visiting heavily infested weed areas on the Charles River Parkway, a 
field of dent corn on the Alewife Brook Parkway, a celery infestation 
on the property of E. M. Moore, and corn plots and weed areas on the 
Mystic Parkway in Arlington. They also viewed a very heavy infesta- 
tion of chrysanthemums in Anderson’s greenhouses on Warren Street, 
Arlington, and an infestation of beets on Tufts Street in that town. 
Lunch was then served at the Arlington Laboratory through the courtesy 
of Commissioner Gilbert. 
During the afternoon’s tour, the Federal experimental plot on 
Grove Street, Medford, was examined, and a stop was made at the Russell 
farm in Winchester, for the purpose of observing an infestation of the 
corn borer in grape and sumach. A heavy rain, however, interfered 
with this portion of the program. The party then visited the Kiley 
farm in Melrose, and the Saugus poor-farm, where very heavy infestations 
of the insect occurred in sweet corn and various vegetables. The tour 
ended at Harvard Square, Cambridge. 
Those members of the party who were not previously acquainted with 
the severity of the present infestation in eastern Massachusetts were 
deeply impressed with the gravity of the situation as regards the market- 
garden industry in that particular locality, and expressed themselves as 
believing that these conditions constitute a menace to the agriculture 
of the surrounding country, including neighboring States. At the con- 
clusion of the tour Commissioner Gilbert expressed the hope that the 
State of Massachusetts might find it possible to appropriate funds for an 
effective clean-up campaign, and that he would favor appropriate State 
legislation for this purpose. 


