No 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 573 



better if it can bo done at sueli a time that a few days of di-y 

 weather follow. One great value of the spring application lies 

 in the fact that the lime and sulphur remain on the branches and 

 appear to have the effect of keeping the young insects from fixing 

 to feed. Upon trees sprayed in March or Aprilthe young crawling 

 insects may be found in June or July, and one may think that his 

 work has not been successful; but these pests do not fix and feed, 

 and upon examination during the fall one will find the trees prac- 

 tically clean. The great purpose of the second application is to 

 be sure and cover all spots that were missed by the first. If a 

 spot as large as the end of a man's finger should be missed it means 

 that there are hundreds of scale insects left to commence the work 

 of bringing forth young to re-infest the tree. 



It is not claimed that this spraying kills all the San Jos^ Scale 

 upon the tree, but it reduces them so in number that it will not have 

 to be sprayed again for two or three years and possibly longer. 

 However, this wash has such a decidedly fungicidal value that the 

 best fruit growers are now using it every year to clean up the 

 fungi that causes rusts, blights, mildew^s, leaf spots, leaf curl, etc. 

 Sprayed even before the buds burst it will act as a very effective 

 preventive of leaf curl. This can be applied by any kind of spray- 

 ing apparatus; but it is important for the operator to cover his 

 hand with rubber or oil skin gloves or rub them w^ell with vaseline 

 II is said that leather gloves or mittens will not do as it will eat 

 through the leather. Horses should be blanketed in order to keep 

 spray from them. If one will keep to the windward side of the tree 

 he need not be injured by the spray coming over him, but he should 

 protect his eyes, and for this it is desirable to wear goggles during 

 this operation. 



In conclusion, I may say that w^hile we really have a serious 

 foe to fight in this pest we should not be discouraged in growing 

 fruits in Pennsylvania. In fact I have, to-day, replied in the affirm- 

 ative to the question: ''Would you advise the planting of a young 

 orchard under present conditions in the infested areas of this 

 State?'-' This pest will prove a blessing in disguise. It will result 

 in the destruction of worthless and unkept trees. It will make 

 fruit culture a profession and better varieties and better culture 

 will result in better fruits. This means also better prices and 

 while we are at present under a cloud, it appears to be only tliat 

 darkness which precedes dawn. 



A Member: Do you believe our native beetle will be able to fight 

 the San Jos6 Scale off? 



rROFESSOR SURFACE: I have seen native lady beetles doing 

 that in Berks county. 



