70 STATE BOARD oF AOraCULTUIlE. 



examined in November and April in nurseries that made no fall deliveries. 



The nursery stock examined during the year compared well with that 

 inspected in other years and as the season was favorable for its growth, 

 it was very free from the attack of plant lice and similar insects. The 

 San Jose scale was again found on a few trees in the nurseries reported 

 last year and the usual steps were taken in the way of destro3dng the in- 

 fested trees and fumigating all others before certificates were granted. It 

 was also found in two other nurseries but in both cases the infested trees 

 were in small detached blocks away from most of the stock and compara- 

 tively few trees were involved. In both of these cases as well as in all other 

 in which nursery stock has been found to be infested with the San Jose 

 scale, the insects had spread to the nursery stock from neighb(fring orchards. 

 This emphasizes the importance of separating nursery business and fruit 

 growing as far as possible and of not planting blocks of trees in close jarox- 

 imity to orchards. 



I am glad to report that in all cases the nurseries have cheerfully carried 

 out the instructions in the way of destroying infested trees and in the fumi- 

 gation of the stock. 



For the most part, the proprietors of nurseries in the state were quite 

 prompt in taking out their licenses but the dealers were in some instances 

 rather slow in giving the matter attention. About the usual number of 

 foreign nurseries took out licenses to cover business done in the state by 

 their agents. 



During the year visits have been made to all of the counties in which the 

 scale has been reported. New areas infested with the scale have been found 

 in Kent county, in Van Buren, Berrien, Oakland and Ionia. In other coun- 

 ties where infested orchards have been found in previous years, the areas 

 have broadened in most cases. The owners of infested orchards are be- 

 coming impressed with the injury that may be caused by this insect and 

 in a great majority of cases have taken measures to control it. Although 

 every effort has been made through bulletins, letters and horticultural 

 gatherings and farmers' institutes to show the necessity for thorough treat- 

 ment, comparatively few have given the orchards the attention they should 

 have received. In some cases the trees should have been carefully pruned 

 before the spra3^ing was done and in others examination of the trees showed 

 that considerable areas upon the branches had not been touched. The 

 imperfect spraying was due to the fact that the wind made it a difficult 

 task, while in others the spraying outfits were not adapted to the purpose. 



The remedy that has been relied upon in most cases has been 15 pounds 

 of sulphur. 2o pounds of lime and 8 pounds of salt in 50 gallons of water, 

 boiled for at least one hour. This has been very effectual, especially upon 

 young trees and others with a smooth bark that are not so large but what 

 they could be thoroughly sprayed. The results upon large api)lc trees 

 have been less satisfactory as the rough bark makes it difficult to reach all 

 of the scale and as hand pumps are used in most outfits comparatively 

 few of the trees have been thoroughly sprayed. The fuzzy growth upon 

 the young twigs of many varieties also serves to protect the scale. It can 

 be said, however, that the remedy has been very reliable whenever the 

 applications have been thoroughly made and the results have been espe- 

 cially good when the applications have been made during the early part of 

 April. 



In some cases other remedies have been used. Caustic soda when applied 



