46 Director's Report of the 



fruit growing regions. Even some of the more intelligent apple 

 growers nearly- concluded that they would be obliged to give up 

 apple growing. It was feared that in the case of large trees no 

 means of preventing the destructive effects of the scale could be 

 devised. There was laid upon the Station the imperative duty of 

 giving to this insect a large amount of attention, for it was true 

 that unless some means could be found of minimizing its destruc- 

 tive effects an end to apple growing in the State of New York 

 would inevitably come. Investigations in regard to the use of va- 

 rious spraying liquids were begun at this and other stations with 

 the result that today the San Jose scale is no longer feared as a 

 menace to fruit growing. This Station was able to demonstrate 

 in an orchard at Youngstown, N. Y., that large trees already 

 badly affected could be restored to a productive condition and so 

 maintained. It has been finally concluded that no spraying 

 liquid is equally efficient with the lime-sulphur wash, and the fruit 

 growers of the State have been put in possession of the details of 

 manufacturing for themselves this wash in an economical way 

 and at much less cost than is involved in the use of commercial 

 preparations. It is not too much to claim when it is stated that 

 this one service to the fruit-growing interests of New York has 

 repaid the State many times over for the cost of the scientific 

 agencies that are now working in the interest of the farmer. 



The year tlirips. — In Bulletin No. 343 the attention of fruit 

 growers is called to the discovery of the pear thrips {Euthrips 

 pyri Daniel) in the Hudson River valley. The occurrence of the 

 pest in New York is of special interest as this is the only region 

 in the United States, outside of the heretofore recog-nized area 

 of infestation in California, where the thrips is known to exist. 



It is noted that in its appearance and habits the thrips is quite 

 different from all other insects which growers in this State have 

 been accustomed to combat. The adult, which is largely respon- 

 sible for the injuries to the trees, is a small, darkish brown, winged 

 insect measuring about one-twentieth of an inch in length. It 

 appears in destructive numbers when the buds are opening, 

 attacking the tenderest of the flower parts. The eggs are mostly 



