302 ANNUAL, REPORT. OP THE Off. Doc. 



applying this inaterial in the early spring you will also destroy the 

 eggs of the tent-caterpillar, the bud moth, etc. 



MR. PHILIPS: About this new remedy for San Jos^ Scale, 

 caustic potash, it does not seem to have been effective. 



PROF. SURFACE: Do not depend on caustic potash. I tried it 

 in January and it has not proven effective. There are reports from 

 many saying that the lime-sulphur-salt solution has been effective. 

 Put it on in the spring or in the fall, or both. 



QUESTION: "I understood Prof. Surface to say that painting 

 trees with lead and oil is a preventive." 



PROF. SURFACE: It prevents borers from laying their eggs, 

 but pure white lead and linseed oil should be used, and not common 

 paint. 



QUESTION: "I was told by a mechanic who had been working 

 on a new house that a man had last year had his house painted with 

 lead and oil. Very near to the house stood a fine pear tree. It was 

 a very vigorous grower and the painter spattered lead and oil on 

 that tree. The owner told him to paint it. In less than a month it 

 died. This man told me of another instance of 100 trees, a certain 

 number of which he painted, and every tree that was painted died." 



PROF. SURFACE: Forty thousand trees have been successfully 

 painted with lead and oil, but the fact is emphasized that pure lin- 

 seed oil and white lead should be used. Doubtless this man used 

 only commercial paint. 



PROF. MENGES: Will it prevent a peach tree borer? 



PROF. SURFACE: No; because it lays its eggs just at or under 

 the surface of the ground. This remedy is too severe for the peach 

 tree, which is the most easily injured. I should recommend lye, 

 in water, for the borer, — a pint or one-pound can in tw^enty gallons 

 of hot water. Pour a quart of this around the base of each peach 

 tree. 



PROF. MENGES: I have the borer, have done everything I know 

 and cannot get rid of it. It makes little round holes in the bark. 



PROF. SURFACE: If you have the pinhole borer, jour trees 

 are in a devitalized condition. It does not attack trees in a vigor- 

 ous condition. Remove the tree and burn it for other causes besides 

 the borer and to keep it from spreading to other trees. It can not 



