138 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



INSPECTION OF NURSERIES. 



The number of nurseries in Michigan is increasing each year, but the 

 increase is in the number of firms engaged in growing and selling straw- 

 berry and other small fruit plants rather than in those who grow tree 

 fruits. Not only are there some thirty parties in Michigan who grow 

 only strawberry plants for sale, and who have taken out licenses as 

 nurseiymen, but there are twice as many more who grow plants to 

 supply the nurseries. All of these plantations must be inspected but 

 as a inile the time required is short. 



With the spread of the San Jose scale in the state it is not strange 

 that it has appeared upon the stock in some of the nurseries, but the 

 care taken is such that it is not likely to be distributed upon nursei'y 

 stock. 



It is most often found upon stock that has been carried over for three 

 or four years, and it has been necessary to order the complete destruc- 

 tion of several of such lots of trees. The nurseries liav^e been advised 

 to clean up all blocks of trees just as soon as possible and thus lessen 

 the danger of their being infested. 



When the San Jose scale is found in blocks of saleable trees, the in- 

 fested trees are destroyed, and all others fumigated with hydrocyanic 

 acid gas, using one ounce potassium cyanide to 100 cubic feet of space 

 for one hour. 



In case the scale is found early in the season the trees are sprayed 

 with lime-sulphur solution at such times as will catch the larvae, and 

 the trees are reinspected just before they are dug. 



In attempting to rid a nursery of the scale in addition to destroying 

 badly infested trees and cleaning out all trees and bushes in the vicinity 

 which could form harboring j)laces for them, the trees are systematically 

 sprayed. During the dormant period one or two applications of some 

 commercial brand of lime-sulphur solution, diluted 1 to 8, are made, 

 and in the summer four applications with a dilution of 1 to 25, or a 

 little stronger towards the last, are given the trees. 



To have the summer sprays effectual it is important that they be given 

 Avhile the larvae are craAvling upon the trees, o^' before the scale cover- 

 ing has turned black, as otherwise the weak solutions would not destroy 

 them. 



The exact time varies with the season, being later when the weather 

 has been cold, but a good rule is to spray a week or ten days after the 

 first larvae appear and again a week or two later. This applies to 

 the fii-st and second broods, making four sprays during the growing 

 season. 



When the a{)plicatious are thoroughly made, very few trees will show 

 the least sign of being infested. This plan should be followed in all 

 nurseries located in sections where the San Jose scale has appeared. 



Improvements in spraying machinei-y for use in nurseries and better 

 knowledge of s]>raying methods should enable the nurseries to reduce 

 the loss of trees to a minimum and im])rove the quality of the stock. 



Comparatively few other dangerous insects or diseases have been 

 found in the nurseries. Among the most troublesome has been the 

 ^^oolIy apliis Avhich has done considerable harm in some nurseries. The 



