114 [Assembly 



elevated centers show them to be a species of scale-insect, known as 

 Aspidiotus Nerii Bouche. It is quite a common species ivpon 

 the oleander, from which its specific name has been taken. It is 

 figured by Prof. Comstock in his Second Report in the Department 

 of Entomology of the Cornell University Experiment Station^ 

 1883, pi. 2, figs. 2 and 2 a, and noticed on page 63 of the report, 

 where it is said to be generally distributed throughout the United 

 States, and to occur upon the cherry, plum, currant, Englisli ivy, 

 maple, upon lemons from the Mediterranean, etc. These scale-in- 

 secta are very injurious to the ivy when they attack it, for multi- 

 plying rapidly, their immense number make such a draft upon the 

 juices of the plant that it can not long withstand the drain. Upon 

 the first notice of the scales, their spread should be checked, if pos- 

 sible. If the plant is small, each leaf should be separately treated, 

 by scraping the scales from them, or washing them with a strong 

 soap solution, or a kerosene oil emulsion. 



To larger plants, the application would have to be made by sprink- 

 ling, or by spraying with a force-pump. 



By far the best time to attack the insect is when the young are 

 first hatched and have crept out from beneath the sheltering scales. 

 From their minuteness, this could only be ascertained by the aid of 

 a magnifying glass, under which they would appear as small dots 

 slowly moving over the surface of the leaf. At this stage they 

 could be killed by a solution of one pound of soap (strong rosin 

 soap) in two gallons of water. 



If not convenient to wait and watch for this phase of the insects' 

 life, they may be killed at any time while in the egg stage beneath 

 the scales, by a kerosene and soap emulsion, prepared as follows : 



Dissolve one pound of rosin soap with heat in one quart of 

 water; add gradually one quart of kerosene, with constant stirring. 

 The result will be a gelatinous compound consisting of fifty per 

 cent of kerosene. This emulsion diluted, when used with two 

 gallons of water, would give a solution contamhig ten per cent of 

 kerosene, which, if properly distributed so as to reach all of the 

 scales, should be of sutticient strength to destroy the eggs without 

 injury to the plant. 



The season at which the young insects would hatch upon in-door 

 plants would depend upon the temperature of the room, but would 

 ordinarily be during the latter part of winter. 



The Cheese-Mite Infesting Smoked Meats. 



From C. H. Wessels, provision broker, New York city, some 

 pieces of smoked ham were received in June, which were infested 

 ■with myriads of a small white mite. Inquiry was made of their 

 nature and origin, and for some safe and effectual method of dealing 

 with them. No attack of the kind had previously come under the 

 observation of Mr. Wessels, or of those engaged in the same trade 

 with whom he had conferred. 



