No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 163 



of these inA'estigalions show that all wheat planted the last of 

 August and the lirst week of Septenibei* is likely to be attacked 

 with the Hessian Fly. Of the wheat planted during the second 

 week of September, two-thirds of the fields are liable to be infested, 

 and of that planted during the third week of the month about one- 

 third of the fields may be infested, while the fly will not be likely 

 to be bad in that planted during the last week of September, and 

 we have never found it occurring in destructive numbers in any 

 field planted after the first of October. 



The San Jos(5 is b}^ all means the most serious pest to fruit trees 

 and certain kinds of ornamental shrubbery and hedges in Pennsyl- 

 vania. This insect has become so destructive and so extensive in 

 its distribution that we have been giving it special attention during 

 the entire year. We have now found it in almost every county in 

 the State of Pennsylvania, and we are confident that its presence 

 may be suspected in any orchard that has been planted during the 

 past ten years. We have studied this pest in orchards and in the 

 library, we have experimented with remedies for it, and have en- 

 deavored to propagate its enemies. The results of such studies are 

 given in the monthly bulletins of the Division. In brief, it may be 

 said that there is only one unfailing remedy that is safe to use upon 

 all kinds of trees, and which has been fully tested both by the 

 scientist and the practical operator. This is the lime-sulphur-salt 

 wash, made by boiling together for two hours a mixture of lime (30 

 pounds), sulphur (20 pounds), and salt (15 pounds), with enough 

 water to make it boil well, and finally adding water enough to make 

 tl^e whole amount to GO gallons. This should be sprayed on the 

 plants while warm. IVfake two applications per year, one just as 

 the leaves drop in the fall and the other just before they expand 

 in the spring. It is not injurious to any trees, and is a valuable 

 fungicide, as well as a very efficieut insecticide. We know where 

 fruit growers in this State have used this wash during the past year 

 and have gathered excellent crops as a reward for their industry, 

 while others in the same region, who failed to use it, had no fruit 

 fit for the market. 



In recognition of the very severe injuries of the San Jos6 Scale, 

 the need of prompt action and practical measures for this pest, the 

 Pennsylvania State Horticultural Association and also The State 

 Board of Agriculture, during their annual meetings last January, 

 passed unanimous resolutions agreeing to ask the next session of 

 Legislature to appropriate $10,000 annually for two years to the 

 Department of Agriculture for the use of this Division in sup- 

 pressing this most serious pest of our fruit trees. It is to be hoped 

 that this action will bear good fruit in behalf of our citizens. 



Other investigations have been undertaken. Among these are 



