162 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



and the native parasitic and predaceous forms though increasing in 

 number very rapidly, have thus far not produced any noticeable bene- 

 ficial effect. Sphccrostilbe coccophila lias been introduced into two 

 orchards, in one of which it has become well establishd and may be of 

 service. Adalia bipunctata is noted as having been found attacking 

 the larva-. 



Of the various remedies of which the author treats, whale-oil soap 

 (at the usual rate of 2 lbs. to 1 gal. of water or in summer half that 

 strength) and kerosene (applying the finest spray and making the 

 thinnest possible coating and then only when the weather favors evap- 

 oration and on dry trees) are especially noted. On some trees the buds 

 are injured by strong solutions of soap, bub this effect may be obviated 

 by spraying just before the tr^es leave out. The application of kero- 

 sene, preferably of 150°, though that of 110° has been successfully 

 applied, should be preceded by trimming the trees at least a month 

 before spraying. Summarizing his methods of treatment, he states 

 that badly infested trees should be treated in the winter with either 

 soap or kerosene, according to circumstances, and this followed by one 

 or more summer treatments. Of the two methods, since it is safer, 

 whale-oil soap should be used where it may be effective. "The scales 

 are not hard to kill; the only difficulty is to get all of them." 



Relative to certificates and legislation, the author plainly shows that 

 he believes the former more or less worthless and part of an impracti- 

 cable method. The practice of giving certificates to nurseries has been 

 discontinued for the reason that the certificates are apt to be misused 

 and because of the impossibility of certifying the absolute freedom from 

 the scale. Little sympathy is evinced with the effort to control insects 

 by law, though the author seems to favor a law providing for the 

 destruction of plant pests and for a salaried official whose duties shall 

 be to locate the scale. 



The periodical cicada in West Virginia, A. D. Hopkins ( West 

 Virginia Sta. Bui. 50, pp. 46, pis. 4, figs. 23, map /). — More than two- 

 thirds of the entire territory of the State, as learned through circular 

 postal cards sent to all parts of the State, is infested with Brood XV 

 of this insect, which was first recorded for the State May 15, 1795, and 

 has been recorded regularly at 17-year intervals ever since. A large 

 part of the southern portion and some of the eastern portion of the 

 State are uninfested with this brood. Nowhere does the insect seem to 

 occur above an elevation of 3,000 ft. 



Where the broods occur the loss occasioned by the oviposition of eggs 

 is very considerable, not only greatly disfiguring twigs but causing 

 them to die and break off. Very often the punctures of the twigs, 

 especially in old and more or less unthrifty trees, never heal over, owing 

 largely to their being immediately attacked by the woolly aphis. Sim- 

 ilar injury is also shown to be due to similar wounds produced by the 

 tree cricket, which are kept from healing by the same aphid. 



