SUMMER MEETING AT OREGON. 123 



ENTOMOLOGICAL REPORT FOR THE SPRING OF 1888. 



BY MISS M. E. MURTFELDT, KIRKWOOD, MO. 



Among the destructive insects to which my attention has been called 

 by others, or which have come under my own observation, are several 

 species which have not previously figured in the records of the economic 

 entomologist, as well as a large number of more familiar pests. 



Among the latter is that long known enemy of the ifursery and 

 young orchard, 



THE APPLE-TREE ROOT-LOUSE, 

 {ScJiizoneiira lanigera, Hausin.) 



During February and March I had a number of communications 

 concerning it; among others one from our honorable secretary, who wrote 

 as follows : " On a visit to our fruit farm in south Missouri, I find some 

 of our nursery trees completely covered with the root louse, so much so that 

 in digging them there would be a perfect mass of white wooly matter about 

 the roots, more than I had ever seen before in all my life — the ground 

 seemed literally filled with it. On the roots were the hard knots usual 

 where the root louse works, but so much of this that I was frightened and 

 doubted if the trees were good for anything ; they were well-grown two- 

 year-old trees. We are making the following experiments with them : 

 The roots of two trees are dipped into water and then dry ashes are scat- 

 tered on them as long as they will stay : the trees are then buried Two 

 more trees are dipped into strong lye, and then planted. Two more are 

 dipped into a strong decoction of tobacco and planted. In a couple of 

 weeks I shall know which kills the louse and what to do, as I shall dip 

 every one before planting and we shall plant 100 acres this spring." 



As Mr. Goodman inquired if there are any other remedies that he 

 could use, I recommended drenching with moderately hot water — 120 

 degrees Fahrenheit. I have not been informed in detail concerning the 

 results of these experiments, but Mr. Goodman mentioned a few weeks 

 ago that some of the young trees had died under the treatment to which 



