Putnam patriot., 1930-08-14
SCOUTS HERE SEEK
 JAPANESE BEETLE
If Seen in Private Yards No Alarm Need Be Felt By
 Owner
Request Cooperation of Cisirens of
 Putnam

Field scouts of the United States Department of Agriculture, Plant Quarantine and Control Administra- tion, in cooperation with the appro- priate authorities of the state of Con- necticut, began scouting operations for the Japanese beetle in Putnam on August 7th. 4 crew of a foreman and three seS;sts each have been as- signed oy the Department of Agricnl- ture to cover the area in and about this locality.
 The Japanese beetle was discovered in this country in f9l6 near River ton. in the wcst-central section of New Jersey. IL is believed to have gained entry to the United States in the grub stage in soil surrounding Japanese iris or azalea plants import ed from Japan. In the intervening fourteen years since it's discovery, the pest has spread until now isolated in- festations exist as far north as Springfield, Mass Providence, K. l.; Hartford. Conn; Binghampton, N. r.; and Sayre, Pa: as far west as Will Transport, Lewiston and Chambers burg, Pa; and as far south as Nor folk and Cape Charles, Virginia. The areas regulated by the Department of Agriculture on account of the insect comprise 43,Sss square miles.
 In order to determine the extent of spread of the beetle, each summer scouts are assigned to scout the areas of likely infestation. These men ex- anime the preferred food plants of the beetle or other foliage on which the adult beetles are likely to be found if present. To do this it is necessary to enter the yards of residences and other premises in which plants may be found The scouts are In uniform and are furnished with identifiea- tion cards which will be exhibited upon request. The scouts will not modest any plants or property on the premises and will make their survey with as little inconvenience to the pro- perty owner as possible. The activ- ities of the scouts were reported to the local police department before scouting activities began. in order that the cooperation of the public could be secured in explaining any complaints or inquiries on the part of residents whose grounds have been entered by the scouts.
 Only Look for Beetles
 The scouts are engaged only in mak ing observations to determine Japan ese beetle infestation. The limited time assigned to the scouting activi- ties in Putnam does not permit them to give detailed information about the Japanese beetle work. nor to iden- tify or suggest control measures for plant diseases or insect pests other than the Japanese beetle. Detailed infornSaton concerning any phase of the Japanese beetle work may be obtained by addressing the Japanese beetle quarantine headquarters of the United States Department of Agrieul- ture. 1890 Pierce Avenue, Camden, New Jersey. Inquiries concerning other insect pests or plant diseases should be addressed to the State Agri- cultural Experiment Station at New Haven Or the State Department of Agriculture at Hartford. The scouts have requested the cooperation of the residents of Putnam in facilitating their work as much as possible.
 The foreman of the scout crew ope- rating in Putnam is Edwin Coss. student of the Allentown Institute. The scouts composing the crew are John Ahern. Yale College; Arnold Smith. Connecticut Agricultural Col lege; and John McGrath. Connecticut Agricultural College.