142 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



sulfur, particularly when speaking of its fungicidal value, the only 

 complaints being the extra work necessary to prepare it and the 

 disagreeable features of spraying with this material. 



Of the two oils in common use here, viz.: 8calecide and Target 

 Brand, I hear much complaint that the latter is held in suspension 

 but poorly, and it would seem on this account many former users 

 will spray with Sealecide. 



To say that there is no insecticidal value in these oils would be 

 shooting wide of the mark. The extensive application of these 

 materials in Adams county has given them a thorough test on this 

 point, and my Eeports will show that many growers are holding the 

 Scale in check by the annual spraying with either Sealecide or 

 Target Brand, used at about 7 per cent, strength. Some are getting 

 fair results by two applicants annually of 5 per cent, strength, 

 but a single annual spray of 1 to 2U on badly infested trees is an 

 absolute failure. Even two such sprays per year not uncommonly 

 kill but a small percentage of Scale. There is, indeed, an apparent 

 lack of uniformity in results by the use of the stronger dilutions. 



It is also noticeable that trees badly infested, and consequently 

 constitutionally injured, will not recover so readily when sprayed 

 with oils as when treated with Lime-sulfur. 



Does spraying with the oils do injury to the trees? It is perhaps 

 early to arrive at definite conclusions on this point. Nevertheless, 

 I know of peach trees that have been killed back after two sprays 

 of Target Brand. In fact, the general unthrifty appearance of 

 peach and plum trees after oil sprayings, make the fact of its injuri- 

 ous effect on thes.e classes of trees so evident that "he who runs may 

 read." 



The interest taken in our work by commercial orchardists is 

 supreme. They realize that they are fighting for the life of their 

 trees, and they receive the Inspector with open arms and hearts and 

 minds. (A few whose bread and butter depend on the oil propa- 

 ganda are somewhat bigoted, but their number is so small that they 

 don't count in the final summing up.* From this glad welcome the 

 feeling grades down to that indifference of the chap who "don't care 

 a rap whether his trees live or die.") 



He is no criterion to judge by, being mostly a natural-born kicker 

 or a disappointed politician. Most persons are led to value their 

 few trees more from the simple fact that the State government con- 

 siders it worth while to make an inspection. 



Tree planting is on the increase in Lancaster and Berks counties 

 now that clean trees can be purchased from the nurseries, and the 

 knowledge of spraying for Scale becomes general. In Adams county 

 many large tracts have been planted during the last year, — the 

 large crop of apples a year ago no doubt having stimulated planting. 

 As most of the orchards are young I predict that in ten years this 

 section will rival any in the entire country in the production of 

 apples. 



*The Inspector did not Intend this remark for publication but it expresses so well the atti- 

 tude of agents of many Commercial Insecticides toward this work in which the Lime-sulfur 

 wash is recommended to save the trees, that wo can not refrain from inserting it with our 

 approval and indication that this expresses much worthy of consideration by persons who find 

 certain Commercial Insecticides are enthusiastically supported by a few individuals. — H. A. S. 



