100 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



stock, even though the unselected stock be practically free from disease ; 

 and there can be no doubt that the potato grower who intends to give his 

 crop the proper care will be well repaid for using the best seed stock 

 obtainable. This is of special importance to those who have clean, dis- 

 ease-free soil in which to plant their potatoes. Of course, in disease- 

 infested soil, without good drainage, or without proper attention to the 

 growing crop, good seed could not be expected to entirely overcome 

 such an environment and exhibit its full capacity for productiveness. 

 — W. Y. Shear, Assistant Horticulturist, U. S. D. A. 



Notes from the United States Department of Agriculture. — Doctor 

 L. 0. Howard of the Bureau of Entomology calls attention to the fact 

 that woolly aphis winters on the roots of the elm and in spring migrates 

 to the apple and pear. This gives a practical hint as to control, but we 

 would regret exceedingly to see the elm with a ' ' black eye. ' ' It would 

 seem that the elm and the apple must have similar characteristics, judg- 

 ing from the fact that so many insects find their tissues and sap so 

 appetizing. Both of these species of trees are attacked by woolly aphis, 

 canker worm, (two species), San Jose scale, scurfy scale, apple leaf 

 hopper, grape vine flea beetle, etc. 



In speaking of quarantine work against the gypsy moth Doctor 

 Howard aptly remarks: "If the work had begun years before, the 

 small colonies in New York, Ohio and the Berkshire regions of Massa- 

 chusetts would not have become established. ' ' We may add that if our 

 admirable quarantine organization had been born in the early sixties 

 we would have almost none of the insect pests that are now taxing us 

 annually away up in the millions. 



Doctor Howard speaks most encouragingly of the introduced 

 parasites on the gypsy moth. We believe we will have a startling story 

 of like import very soon owing to the telling work now in progress at 

 the State Insectary. There is also a reference to the encouraging 

 results of control measures in lessening the danger from pear thrips 

 here. 



Again, we owe much to the United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture : Decay of fruit in transit has lost its terrors ; fumigation is 

 initiated and perfected; the life history of the elater beetle is written 

 out; foul brood among bees, both American and European, is fully 

 explained — all through the phenomenally good work of our National 

 Department of Agriculture. — A. J. C. 



Tasmanian Pruning.— Pruning has a great effect on both the quality 

 and regularity of the crop. The method depends on the variety of fruit 

 and the conditions of soil and climate, so no hard and fast rules can be 

 laid down for orchardists. As in painting, the principal ingredient in 

 successful pruning is brains. 



But there are certain principles to guide us in our efforts to secure 

 successful results. We want even quality of choice, well-ripened fruit, 

 and as the sun and air are the ripening agents, it is essential that every 

 apple or other fruit should have free space for the circulation of air, 

 and "a place in the sun." Following out these ideas a method of 

 pruning has been evolved in Tasmania to try and secure these results. 



The single stem of the nursery stock is cut off about fifteen inches 



