The commissioner may co-operate with the United States department of agriculture, with the department of conservation, and with counties, townships, associations, institutions and individuals for the suppression and control of white pine blister rust, and shall carry on such investigations of the disease and its control as are deemed advisable by the commissioner. The department of conservation shall have control of all state owned lands and it shall be its duty to co-operate with the department of agriculture in the control of the white pine blister rust on all state lands and the expense so incurred shall be borne by the department of conservation.