NEW YORK EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 365 



abundance in some sections of the state and has already shown that it 

 can thrive in western New York. The fact also that a small nursery has 

 been found in the western part of the state and others in the southeastern 

 in which the scale has been thriving for several years, indicates that this 

 insect may have a much wider distribution within our borders than is at 

 present suspected. This seems all the more probable when we reflect that 

 just over the line in Canada the scale has been found in a number of 

 orchards and it is known to occur in states bordering New York on the 

 east, south and west. At present there is no law to hinder the importa- 

 tion of infested stock from all of these directions and no provision made 

 for a systematic effort to prevent the further spread of this and similar 

 pests within the state. 



The insects discussed in this bulletin have been found in more or less 

 abundance in the nurseries from time to time. All of them are readily 

 transported on nursery stock and hence are of importance to the nursery- 

 man as well as the fruit grower. 



The problem of how best to control the numerous species of insects 

 which attack the growing plants in the nursery is a very important one. 

 The few experiments noted in this bulletin are incomplete, but it is ex- 

 pected that as opportunity is afforded they will be continued until more 

 definite results are reached. This work will be greatly aided by the in- 

 creased facilities at the station. 



INSPECTION OF NURSERIES IN WESTERN NEW YORK. 



METHOD OF INSPECTION. 



The immediate surroundings of the nursery were first noted and any old 

 neglected orchards bordering on the nursery, or neglected blocks of stock 

 w^ere first carefully examined. On several occasions neglected apple 

 orchards or a few old neglected apple trees were found badly infested with 

 various species of injurious insects, principally the woolly aphis. Further 

 examinations showed that many of the nursery trees in the immediate 

 vicinity were infested with the same species, the indications being that the 

 insects had originally come from the old trees. After the orchard trees 

 were examined the condition of the more immediate surroundings of the 

 blocks, such as the fence corners, etc., were noted and any suspicious 

 looking shrubbery subjected to a careful scrutiny. The nursery rows were 

 next examined, the usual method being to go back and forth across the 

 rows a number of times until the general appearance of the trees was 

 well noted. All suspicious looking trees were, of course, carefully 

 examined. Where possible the examination was repeated two or three 

 times during the season. 



VALUE OF INSPECTION. 



It is a difficult matter to estimate the real value of nursery stock in- 

 spection. Very much depends upon the care with which the work is 

 done, eludging from our own experience and from the work that is being 

 done in other states, inspection which includes not only the nursery but 



