578 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE . Off. Doc. 



Ions of water was used, and this diluted, after boiling the mixture to 

 fifty gallons or a proportionate amount, with either hot or cold 

 water. The boiling continued for at least one hour, a brick-red color 

 being sought, when the lime used was calcium carbonate, and dark 

 olive green was obtained with longer boiling when using magnesium 

 carbonate. In all cases the Vermorel nozzle and an extension rod 

 were used. 



Meetings of this kind were held in thirty counties, — 182 in all, 

 with a total attendance of over 5,000. Practically every one of 

 these were interested, practical persons, and assuming that only 

 one out of ten, which is a very low estimate, will spray during the 

 coming season, it means that 500 persons, widely separated in this 

 State, will undertake spraying, who would not have done so but for 

 this instruction. This will not be the end of this work, for it also 

 means that if only one small grower take up the work, in the course 

 of a year or two the majority of his neighbors will be doing it 

 also when they see his profits. This has been the case in certain 

 counties of Southern Pennsylvania, where a few public-spirited and 

 progressive horticulturists began such spraying a few years ago, 

 and where at the present time the properties of these very persons 

 have formed the center around which the most progressive work in 

 the State is being done. 



Up to this time at least two important facts have been brought 

 out: From the personal inspection made by these agents it can not 

 now be definitely said that there is a single county in this State 

 where there is no San Jose' Scale. From several it has not been 

 reported, but the inspection in those counties has not been gen- 

 eral enough to give definite results. It is present in every 'fruit- 

 growing section of any considerable importance. Not only this, 

 but it is also generally distributed over local areas, and if it be not 

 general or on all of the trees in such areas, it is on a few at sep- 

 arated intervals, showing that it is just getting a good start, and the 

 worst is yet to come unless active means to fight it are imme- 

 diately taken. 



The work was actively continued until the first of the present 

 year, when it was dropped on account of the unfavorable weather, 

 but it will be resumed this spring at the first opportunity. It will 

 be conducted in about the same manner as last fall, although 

 plans have been made to have it more systematized than formerly. 

 The work of the past season was the first and successful trial of a 

 method originated by Prof. H. A. Surface, Pa. State Zoologist, and 

 never before tried anywhere. It was necessarily somewhat im- 

 perfect in the beginning and there were times when the theoreti- 

 cal and practical did not connect owing to unforeseen difficulties of 

 many kinds, but all of these were overcome in due time. An en- 

 deavor will be made to prepare early schedules for the demonstra- 

 tions of the coming spring, from the many applications already 

 received, so that when actual work is started it may continue unin- 

 terruptedly. It is hoped that by May 1st every county in this State 

 in which there is San Jos6 Scale will have been reached by one or 

 more demonstrations, and before the present appropriation is ex- 

 hausted it is believed that a representative of the Division of Zoology 

 will be able to give a demonstration in each infested township. 



It is certain, from the many favorable reports received and now 



