No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 115 



At tlie proper season for treatment of pests the owner received 

 from the office a letter of information, stating what pests were 

 found, and giving him full instructions as to how to proceed to control 

 or suppress them. This came as nearly as possible to the ideal 

 method of individual service. 



The circulars for the more common i)ests of orchards, which are 

 sent to the orchardists, are as follows : 



CIRCULARS 

 DEPAKTMENT OF AGRICULTUKE— DIVISION OF ZOOLOGY 



THE SAN JOSE SCALE 



This is the most destructive insect pest with which we have 

 to deal, as it is liable to infest nearly all fruit trees, and a large 

 variety of shade trees, shrubbery, and small fruits. In appearance 

 the female San Jose scale is circular in shape, with a raised point in 

 the center, surrounded by a groove or depression. The male is ob- 

 long in shape, and the raised point is excentric. This scale is about 

 the size of a fly speck, or the dot over the letter "i" in this type. 



The San Jose scale passes the winter about three-fourths grown, 

 and begins to bear living young about June 1st. The young insect 

 is minute and sulfur yellow, and crawls about the tree for two or 

 three days seeking a favorable location to fasten permanently by 

 inserting its beak, through which it feeds. In a few days the back 

 of the insect becomes covered with a white, waxy secretion, later 

 turning gray. This secretion forms a perfect cover and secure pro- 

 tection for the insect beneath. When about 30 days old, the females 

 begin to produce their young, giving birth to from three to six each 

 day for probably 30 days. One may become the progenitor of over 

 three million in one season. These young, being of a bright lemon 

 color, give the badly infested bark a yellowish cast early in the 

 summer, but later when insects of all stages of development are pres- 

 ent, the infested bark presents a grayish or ashen appearance. 



The San Jose scale spreads only while in the free moving state, 

 or on wood that is to be used for propagation ; and can be carried 

 by birds, insects, cattle, cats, squirrels, workmen and winds. The 

 most wide-spread diffusion, however, was brought about some years 

 ago by the traffic in infested nursery stock, but this is now checked 

 by the careful inspection of nurseries everj'where. 



Treatment: Seriously infested trees should be carefully pruned, 

 cutting them back in proportion to their injury, as indicated by 

 dead and dying limbs and the red color in the twigs. Spray in- 

 fested trees, covering them entirely, from top to bottom, with Lime- 

 sulfur Solution, using one of the following: 



Lime-sulfur Solution (Home-boiled, Dilute). This is made by 

 slaking 22 pounds of quick lime (fresh stone lime), to which is added 

 17 pounds of finely ]towdered or ground sulfur ])reviously mixed into 

 a paste with a little water to break up any lumps which may be 

 present. Boil in an iron kettle in sufficient water for an hour, and 

 dilute to make 50 gallons. Strain this well through a fine brass 

 wire netting, having about 30 wires to the inch. Spray at once, or 

 before the mixture gets cold. 



