1894-] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 183 



the above insect, detailing the places where it has been found in the east 

 and describing its introduction into this country, and its history in a suc- 

 cinct manner. Illustrations showing the insect in all its stages and exam- 

 ples of infested fruit and twigs are also given, and suggestions as to the 

 remedies which should be used. In the body of the circular the sugges- 

 tion is made that some of the eastern nurseries, and New Jersey was es- 

 pecially hinted at, were responsible for the distribution of the scale in the 

 Atlantic States. This attracted my attention of course, and an investiga- 

 tion was made, which resulted in the discovery that the charge was true, 

 and that the scale had been present in Ne\v Jersey for a period of six or 

 seven years at least, and had been distributed from at least one point for 

 three or four years in succession. According to the account given in the 

 Bulletin above cited the scale was first brought to California from Chile 

 about 1870, but did not become noticeable until 1873. In 1886 or 1887, a 

 New Jersey grower ordered from California, San Jos district, a consider- 

 able quantity of Japanese plums which were sent him in due course, from 

 which the scale spread to other stock in his nursery, and through this stock 

 into neighboring orchards. I saw the scale on a few young trees in the 

 fall of 1893, but did not recognize its character, paying very little attention 

 to it since no special complaint was made of its abundance, and because 

 I had not that special knowledge in the group which enabled me to rec- 

 ognize the insect at a glance. A region of from six to ten miles along the 

 Delaware and extending into New Jersey for perhaps five miles back is 

 quite generally infested, although varying of course in degree in the or- 

 chards, according to the age of the trees and the date of infection. How 

 much further the insect has spread within the State I have not yet been 

 able to ascertain, but am conducting investigations with the view of dis- 

 covering the facts. Fortunately the character of the community in the 

 infested district is such that the gentlemen engaged in fruit culture are 

 able to appreciate the gravity of the situation, and wherever it has been 

 shown that the scale has an existence the most active measures have been 

 taken to stamp it out. In the nursery from which it started thousands of 

 dollars' worth of stock has been destroyed, because it was more or less 

 infested by this insect. Many large trees have been taken out and burnt, 

 others have been cut back liberally, and yet others are marked for radical 

 treatment at the proper time. The strictest supervision is now exercised 

 over stock that is sent out, and none that is suspicious will be distributed 

 hereafter. I think I may say positively that from the original source of 

 infection no further distribution of the scale will be made, and I also feel 

 hopeful that wherever the scale has been shown to be present, measures 

 will be taken such as will enable it to be completely destroyed. The in- 

 vestigations that have been made thus far are not sufficient to authorize 

 any conclusions concerning the preferences of the scale, but some quite 

 marked indications exist. For instance, among the plums, the Japanese 

 varieties are favorites, while the American and European varieties seem 

 to be less attacked, although by no means exempt. Among pears, the 



