Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y., Dec. 20, 1894. 



The Honorable Commissioner of Agriculture, Albany. 



Sir: Probably the most serious enemy which has appeared in 

 New York orchards in many years is a scale insect, which at- 

 tacks plums and some other trees. It is not known how long the 

 insect has been a resident of the state, but it has not attracted the 

 attention of orchardists until within the last year or two ; yet even 

 now it threatens the entire destruction of thousands of trees in the 

 counties of Niagara, Monroe and Ontario. The full life history of 

 the insect is not yet understood and its scientific name is not de- 

 termined ; but Mr. Slingerland has made a careful study of it 

 during the summer and has discovered enough of its characteris- 

 tics to enable him to give competent advice for its destruction. It 

 can be destroyed by persistent spraying between now and spring. 

 This bulletin is essentially a report of progress in the study of this 

 scale, and in order to aid the reader in distinguishing it from the 

 San Jose scale, which has recently appeared in the state, an illus- 

 tration of the latter insect is inserted. The bulletin is approved 

 by Professor Comstock. The whole account is submitted as a 

 bulletin in compliance with Section 87, Chapter 675, of the laws 

 of 1894. ly. H. Bailey. 



