THE APPLE SCALE, OR BARK LOUSE. 



BY A. G. HANFORD, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN. 



HIS insect is attracting much interest among western 

 orcharclists. Cultivators understand the nature and ex- 

 j/^W\j\ I \ I tent of its depredations, and the difficulty of ridding their 

 trees of this pest. All are anxious to find a sure remedy 

 of easy application. Spirited controversies are carried 

 on over the different remedies proposed, some denounc- 

 ing those which do not at once accord with their own or 

 some long established theory. 



Facts are facts, in spite of regularly received orthodox 

 opinions ; now and then new theories must be wrought 

 out to suit these unyielding facts. The intelligent progressive orchardist, will 

 try, with all proper caution, such remedies as seem feasible and practicable — try 

 them thoroughly, and hold fast to those which prove good, though they conflict 

 with preconceived notions. An interesting account of this insect was given in 

 the November 'No. of the Horticulturist. From some of the statements of" R.," 

 however, my own observations would lead to different conclusions. I have never 

 been able to discover more than one brood in a year, which in this latitude hatches 

 about the first of June. The scale is never found on the new growth, made after 

 about the middle of June. 



Though quite active for a short period, probably but for a day or two, I do 

 not think this insect journeys far from the place of its birth. Being exceedingly 

 light, it is liable to be blown to different parts of the tree, or to other trees; hence 

 arises the idea that it "crawls all over the tree." In from one to three days it 

 becomes stationary, where it remains, feeding upon the sap of the growing tree, 

 till it attains full size. Passing through its different stages, at the end of the year 

 we find it full of life, ready to increase itself manifold. From these few parents 

 spring a great army of depredators, going on to increase in like ratio each suc- 

 ceeding season. 



Neglected trees of stunted growth, and more especially those planted on wet, 

 badly drained land, are most liable to infection from this destructive insect. The 

 preventive will readily suggest itself; drain the land and thoroughly cultivate the 

 soil. Where the trees are not badly affected, this treatment alone will usually rid 

 them of these pests. 



I have seen whole orchards, in which the trees seemed entirely covered with 

 these scales. No remedy, to my knowledge, has proved so efficacious or more 

 harmless than "Tar and Linseed oil," which I have previously recommended 

 gh different agricultural journals. Equal parts are to be mixed thoroughly 



