ENTOMOLOGY. 271 



with these washes. The experiments inchided the artificial appUeatioii of water to 

 a part of the trees after tiiey had been treated with the wash. As a general result 

 of the experiments it was found that a single api)lication of the lime, salt, and sul- 

 phur wash caused the destruction of 90.(5 per cent of the scales when no water was 

 applied to the trees within 5 days after spraying and 86 per cent when water was 

 used. The effectiveness of the lime, sulphur, and blue vitriol wash was 93 per cent 

 and 92.2 per cent, respectively. During these experiments 43 trees were treated, 25 

 being ai)ple and 18 peach trees. 



Detailed descriptive and tabulated notes are given showing the time of treatment 

 of the trees and the effect f)f the treatment upon the scales found on each tree. At 

 the time of year when the experiments were made rain storms naturally occurred. 

 One experiment was made under a tent, the artificial aj)i)lication of water being 

 strictly controlled by placing a tent over the tree at night and at the approach of 

 rain storms. Two trees were treated in this manner, one being sprayed with the 

 lime, salt, and sulphur wash and the other with the Oregon wash containing blue 

 vitriol. In this experiment no important differences were noted in the action of the 

 insecticides, the general effect being the destruction of about 95 per cent of the 

 scales. The results of the experiments, as observed on March 25 or 20 and 22 days 

 after the application of the wash, indicated that the Oregon wash of lime, sulphur, 

 and blue vitriol i.s a valuable insecticide for use in Illinois for the destruction of San 

 Jose scale. It ai)pears from these experiments that frequent short rains do not 

 noticeably diminish ijr delay its action, even when they occur within a period of 

 five days after the application of the wash. Both of the insecticides are harmless 

 to trees, but should l)e used in winter. At the date mentioned it appeared that 

 the California wash of lime, salt, and sulphur was somewhat less effective than the 

 Oregon wash. 



When the trees were examined on May 12, however, a careful count of the scales 

 found upon the trees showed that there were very few living scales. Of 9,000 scales 

 carefully examined only 35 were found living. One-half of the trees on which these 

 statistics were based were sprayed with the California wash and the other half with 

 the Oregon wash. It appears, therefore, that the two insecticides are abf)ut equally 

 effective. The action of the washes is apparently prolonged to a period of 3 weeks 

 or more. The chief differences between the two washes are considered to be in the 

 rapidity of action rather than in the ultimate effect on the scales. 



A scale insect infesting tlie fig tree, and its enemies, Trabut (Bid. Agr. Alg/rie 

 et Tnnisk, 8 [1902), No. 7, }>}>. IG 1-167, fiijii. 9). — An account is given of the habits and 

 life history of Ceroplastes rui^cL This bark louse may, under certain conditions, almost 

 completely cover the branches, fruits and leaves of the fig tree. Ordinarily, however, 

 it is held in check by its numerous enemies, among which special mention is made of 

 several species of ladyl»irds and i)arasitic insects. 



The grapevine and Ccepophagus echinopus, S. Jourdain ( Compt. Raul. Acad. 

 Sci. I'arix, 134 {1903), No. 5, p. S16). — The author l)elieves that the disease of grape- 

 vines attril)uted to this mite is not thus produced. The mite was fre(]uently found on 

 tul)crci('s, roQts, and bulbs which had commenced to decompose; it was not believed, 

 however, to have made the original attack upon these tissues. It is stated that this 

 mite does not attack healthy vines, but only such as are more or less injured by 

 unfavorable (-(juditions in the environment. 



The destruction of grapevines by the mite Ccepophagus echinopus, L. Man- 

 ciiN anil r. ViALA [Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris, 134 {1002), No. 4, pp. 251-253; Bui. 

 Agr. Algfrie et Tiinisie, 8 {1902) , No. 4, PP- 107-109). — The observations of the authors, 

 extending over several years, indicate that grapevines are not usually attacked by 

 this mite while they are in perfect health. When, however, the soil is only slightly 

 permeable, compact, and moi.st, and the root system poorly developed, the mites 

 attack the plants, causing disease or death of the vines. A considerable variation in 



