64 agricuIvTure; of maine. 



being more numerous and often apparently more to their liking, 

 cause them to multiply exceedingly. Then, too, in most cases 

 the parasites, which in their native state held them in check, 

 have either not followed them into civilization, or have not 

 found the same congenial surroundings. Again, as we are 

 bringing into the country products from the ends of the earth, 

 we will bring in the future, as we have in the past, unknown 

 insects, such as the gypsy and brown-tail moths and San Jose 

 scale, all of which must be reckoned with. While this, at first 

 glance, may seem discouraging, yet it is after all what makes 

 our fruit growing profitable. It puts a premium on the product 

 of the man who will grow and market his article in spite of 

 these difficulties. I am very sure, were it not for the San Jose 

 scale — which, fortunately, you Maine growers have not yet had 

 to contend with — our fruits would not be bringing the present 

 high prices. Spraying is not a summer day pastime, or a job 

 which one may crave. It is disagreeable and expensive at best, 

 but must be done if success in orcharding is to be attained, 

 and when properly done no day's work in the orchard or on the 

 farm will yield so large a return. 



Simply to spray because it is fashionable, or when one has 

 an odd moment, will avail little. One must spray for a definite 

 trouble, do it at the right time, and do it thoroughly, or he had 

 better not do it at all. 



I am no entomologist or plant doctor, so do not propose to 

 go into a description of the life history of insects or diseases, 

 other than is necessary to bring out a few vital points. One 

 must distinguish in the first place between insects which eat 

 with their jaws, such as the potato bug or tent caterpillar, and 

 can be controlled by poisoning the leaf surface, and those that 

 suck their food from the leaf tissues and to which no poison 

 does any harm, such as the various families of plant lice. 

 These can only be destroyed by covering them with some sticky 

 substance to stop up their breathing pores which are in the 

 sides of their bodies. The various soap and oil emulsions, as 

 well as the lime and sulphur washes, are all effective, but un- 

 less they can be applied when the insect is in the egg state, not 

 always very satisfactory, for most of these insects are winged, 

 and unless they are hit with the material they soon return, and 

 in a few days rear up a large family to destroy the plant or to 



