184 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Jose scale but the iiijniy from ])liint lice, wholly aphis and crown-gall 

 was nnich less than in previous years. 



Owing to the fact that coniparativeh' few farmers are putting out 

 apple and peach orchards, several of the largest nurseries in the state 

 have had a surplus of these trees on hand at the end of the shipping 

 season and this has caused a considerable reduction in the acreage so 

 far. as fruit trees are concerned. However, they have turned their at- 

 tention to ornamental trees and shrubs so that the actual acreage is 

 as much, if not larger than it was before. Since such* trees and shrubs 

 as the mountain ash, Prunus pissardi, Japan quince, Cornus siberica and 

 others which are quite subject to the attack of the San Jose scale have 

 been very generally dropped from the planting lists, the ornamental 

 nurseries have been quite free from this insect. 



ORCHARD INSPECTION. 



Under the state law, provision is made for the inspection of orchards 

 by local Boards of Inspectors. In sections where fruit culture is of 

 commercial importance, the townships have made it a practice to appoint 

 inspectors for the purpose and in most cases they have done efficient- 

 work. During the year, we have endeavored to secure the appointment 

 of local inspectors in all townships, cities and villages where the con- 

 ditions seemed to warrant it. Lej:ters were sent to all the supervisors in 

 the counties where the San Jose scale has been troublesome and their 

 attention was called to the requirements under the law. We have been 

 informed that a large number of the inspectors have been appointed. We 

 have been able to aid them by offering suggestions and information re- 

 garding their duties. 



The members of this department have also responded to many calls 

 from townships where there were no local inspectors or where for various 

 reasons they may have asked for assistance. Particular attention has 

 been paid to the inspection of orchards in counties along the northern 

 limit of the San Jose scale area with the idea of preventing its further 

 spread. We are very glad, indeed, to report that while it has been found 

 in a few cases further north, very little harm has been done north of a 

 line drawn from Ludington to Bay City. There are, of course, manj^ 

 places south of this line where the scale has never appeared and in the 

 southern part of the state, conditions are greatly improved, partly due 

 to the cutting down of old orchards as well as to thorough spraying and 

 the work of insect parasites. 



The injui'3^ done during the year by peach yellows and little peach, 

 black knot and other diseases, as well as by the canker worm and the 

 other destructive insects, was less serious than in previous years. 



EXAMINATIONS OP I:MP0RTED NURSERY STOCK. 



Although the amount of stock imported from Europe during the past 

 year was the smallest since the work of inspection was taken up, the 

 time required was nearly as much owing to delayed shipments which 

 tended to increase the number of inspection trips required. The inspec- 

 tion notices made it very clear that the delays occurred after the stock 

 left jS^ew York Cit}' and as it was not uncommon to require four weeks 

 for the stock to reach Michigan after leaving New York City, in addition 



