556 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



THE SAN JOSE SCALE. 



Bt Dr. J. H. FtiNK, Boyertown, Pa. 



This pest, its origin, its migration to this country, the region of 

 its first destruction, etc., has been described so often and so minu- 

 tely, that a further description seems unnecessary. Yet, to treat 

 intelligently any subject that is so much talked about, about which 

 s*"! much has been published during the past ten years, and 

 of which so little is really known by the general public, it almost be- 

 comes imperative to give a short description. Our greatest danger 

 always lies in being unfamiliar with the object of danger. In our 

 fancied security, we fail to become cognizant of that danger until 

 the work of destruction is complete. Of all the badly infested or- 

 chards, how many do we find of which the owner knew that he had 

 the scale until his orchard is ruined almost beyond recovery. He 

 then discovered it only by the lack of thrift, or the dying condition 

 of his trees, or by the fruit being so completely scabbed as to ren- 

 der it unsalable. 



I am satisfied that there are hundreds of orchards throughout the 

 State, even in counties at present supposed to be free from this 

 pest, that are so badl}' infested that unless they are treated and the 

 scale destroyed, will be utterly ruined inside of two years. I was 

 informed by high authority that Laclcawanna, Susquehanna and 

 Wayne counties were thus far free. The farmers and fruit grow- 

 ers are happy in the thought. Yet while they rejoice the foe is 

 assiduoush^ at work. 



While attending the Farmers' Iiistitutes in Lackawanna county, I 

 had no opportunity to examine the orchards until I came to Tomj)- 

 kinsville. Here I found a native plum tree completely encrusted 

 with this scale louse. This tree stood just inside the fence along 

 the public highway, beside the gate of the dooryard. It was passed 

 and repassed dozens of timers daily. It stood so close that in |)as- 

 sing, the limbs brushed the clothing, yet the owner was surprised 

 when I called his attention to the scale and showed him the pest 

 under the magnifying glass. 



If this insidious foe can work undiscovered beneath the very eyes 

 of the iiveriige farmei', how imj)ortant it is to educate every owner 

 of a tree until he becomes as familiar with its appearance as the 



