214 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



young shoots upon which no trace of the scale could be found, although on the old stump 

 many of the scales which had been killed by the treatment given them last winter 

 were still discernible. Besides these two badly infested trees, those which were slightly 

 affected and had been severely cut back last winter and then treated, had made vigorous 

 growth. Upon some of these a very few living scales were found, showing that, 

 although the treatment with whale-oil soap was extremely effective, rendering it possible 

 to find the scales only by very close search, yet it was not absolutely so, as there were a 

 few still alive. Mr. Van Horn had attended to this matter very carefully, being much 

 interested in it and being also keenly solicitous for the welfare of his neighbours. 

 Every tree in his orchard had been sprayed, and he intends to repeat the operation 

 regularly during the coming season. 



Mr. Thonger's letters : 



" Niagara, May 10. — I have discovered San Jose Scale on several of my trees, but 

 do not think it is in any other orchard in the neighbourhood as yet, as nobody seems to 

 know anything about it. I have dug out several dwarf trees — the worst — and sprayed 

 with whale-oil soap solution all those immediately surrounding the infested spot. That 

 was on Thursday last, and I thought these looked cleaner a day or two after, and I 

 almost regretted that I cut down the others ; but this may be fancy. I feel considerable 

 responsibility in the matter and shall be glad of any information you can give me." 



" May 11. — I send you to-day some infested twigs (pear tree). I have selected them 

 with the object of showing the difficulty of detecting the scale when only a few are 

 present, gather than the extreme stages, when, the whole trunk being covered with a 

 mass of scales that hide the bark, it is obvious enough. 



" I noticed only one tree last summer and was struck by its disgusting appearance. 

 This tree was planted eight years this spring. Including this tree, I have taken out to 

 burn seven trees as too badly infested to cure, and left about as many nearly as bad, 

 to spray. The infested stock must have been from F. C. Young, Rochester, N.Y., and 

 planted in May, 1894 ; or perhaps with a replace not later than 1895. This would 

 indicate that the scale may spread one or two seasons without being observed, or even 

 longer, or migrate from the infested stock and develop quicker in the new location. 

 The infestation is evidently very slow in developing to such an extent as to attract 

 attention, unless it happens to strike a pear tree or one as favourable to its growth and 

 development. The scale appears to have started in the south-west corner of a plot and 

 spread north and east to some 5U trees. I must spray the whole plot, and will try and 

 keep you informed of my progress. 



" My farm is well situated for isolating the attack. On the lake shore there is noth- 

 ing to take the infestation to the north-east or west, — I think the wind has much to do 

 with spreading it — and the infested area is well sheltered by woods from all quarters but 

 south-west to south-east. I think it would be quite to the interest of the fruit growers 

 of this country if the Department of Agriculture would send an expert here to examine 

 into the matter on the spot, and decide what is the best thing to do and to assist in 

 carrying it out. 



" It is clearly of the utmost importance to prevent the scale from getting a foothold 

 in the country. The Black Knot experience shows that the individual growers will not 

 take the pains to eradicate a pest that does not kill the tree at once, but this sort of 

 action will not do in this case. Rather than assume the responsibility, as well as the 

 cost, of attempting to fight the pest myself, I would rather cut down and burn every 

 infested tree ; but I do not think that course would be in the best interest of either the 

 country or myself." 



" May 27. —I have been making a tree-to-tree examination through the orchard, 

 taking row by row and have found two peach trees much farther away from the pear 

 trees than the dead tree of which I sent you samples. The nearer tree is one about ten 

 years old. I think the confidence we have had in the precautions to keep the scale out 

 of the country is largely to blame lor the hold it has now among us. I cannot look at 

 this tree without the conviction that, had I even glanced at it three years ago with scale 

 in my eye, it must have been detected at once. Even last summer, when seen on the 

 pear tree, I was quite unsuspicious, and only when two men who have been among fruit 



