No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 303 



many of the large fruit-growing districts two or three years ago 

 nearly all the horticulturists were discouraged with it and ready 

 to quit, but we are pleased to be able to report that now they have 

 taken new courage and are producing almost perfect fruit in spite 

 of the presence of the San Josd Scale. They are learning to keep 

 such pests in check by the most simple, cheap and efficient reme- 

 dies. 



Where there is a great demand there will eventually appear a 

 great supply. This State has experienced a ver^^ urgent demand 

 for an effective and convenient insecticide. As a consequence, ma- 

 terials of many kinds have been placed upon the market. While 

 we can not discuss here in detail the various remedies for the 

 San Jos^ Scale, it appears important for us to say that it has been 

 demonstrated beyond doubt that the best and cheapest remedy for 

 this pest is the lime-sulphur wash: 



17 pounds lime, 22 pounds sulphur, water to boil an hour, boil, 

 strain and add water to .make 50 gallons, and spray by giving two 

 good coats over all the bark. 



Fortunately, two or three companies are now making commer- 

 cial preparations of the lime-sulphur compound, which are effec- 

 tive and which although costing a little more than the home-made 

 lime-sulphur wash are not nearly as expensive as the commercial 

 oil preparations now on the market, and this has the additional ad- 

 vantage over the oils of being a fungicide as well as an insecticide. 

 It is our pleasure to report that the material made and sold as 

 "Ska-Kill," at Waynesboro, Pa., has been withdrawn from manu- 

 facture and sale. It has proven entirely inefficient and unsatis- 

 factory, as we indicated it would, and demonstrated it by actual 

 test. We hope to see all commercial materials that fail to give 

 satisfactory results properly exposed, in order that purchasers may 

 act intelligently in attempting to suppress pests with such insecti- 

 cides. For this reason, we deem it necessary to call attention to 

 one of the so-called soluble oil preparations sold under the name 

 of ''Target Brand," made at Martinsburg, W. Va., which is re- 

 ported to us from different sources as having resulted in the de- 

 struction of trees to which it was applied. It is im.portant for our 

 practical fruit growers to know that such unfortunate results have 

 been obtained by their brother horticulturists and are liable to re- 

 cur at any time and place. 



Attention should be called to the experiments which have been 

 conducted by the Division of Zonlosry of the State Department of 

 Agi'iculture and of whirh publication has been made in the Monthly 

 Bulletins of said Division. Practi("ally all insect pests in this State 

 have been therein discuss^^d nnd formulae for suppressing the same 

 hnve been published in the May, June and July numbers. These 

 may be obtained free by writing for them. Also the various Experi- 

 ment Stations and the IT. S. Department of Agriculture have pub- 

 lished extensively upon entomological topics, and persons inter- 

 ested mnv obtain literatur'^ without charp-e upon almost any topic 

 he may desire. Upon the insects concerning which we have had 

 considerable correspondence in this State during the last year are 

 the following: 



