528 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



CoiKrrniii",' Hit- i)r(>tcctinii to wliirli a iiurHL'rymaii is entitled against scale-infested 

 surr<)uniliii<rs, it appeared that in many States the premises of nurserymen were 

 located in the midst of l)adly infested surroundings, in some instances with infested 

 orchards within a distance of a half mile. Under such circumstances infestation 

 might readilv be spread from such orchards to nursery stock. On this account luirs- 

 erymen in various States have complained that it was unfair to them to a!lov=/ 

 infested orchards to stand, while the nurserymen were required to destroy infested 

 stock. C. V. Piper stated that in the State of Washington the general sentiment of 

 orchard ists and nurserymen was that inspec^tion was absolutely unnecessary, and a 

 1:)urden u])on both nurserymen and orchardists, since remedies had been found by 

 which the scale can be controlled, and infestation is so general that orchardists 

 could not hope to secure stock perfectly free from it. 



In the discussion of this question some attention was given to the distril)ution of 

 the San Jose scale on forest trees and shrubs other than fruit trees. In the Eastern 

 States the scale has not been found on forest trees except in the immediate vicinity 

 of orchards, while in "Washington it has been found in forests at least one-half mile 

 from any orchard. 



Regarding the selling of nursery stock exposed to infestation which has subse- 

 quently been fumigated, it was shown that fumigation is often imperfectly done, or the 

 chemicals are impure or are not properly mixed, with the result that fumigation is not 

 satisfactory. A discussion of potassium cyanid sold in drug stores brought out the 

 fact that in using it for destroying granary insects it has frequently been found of 

 inferior quality, and cases were cited in which the purity of the drug varied fnnn 28 

 to 98 per cent. It was stated, however, that in the future almost the total output of 

 potassium cyanid would be of 98 per cent purity, which is the strength recommended 

 as standard in fumigation work. 



Where fumigation is properly performed, the consensus of opinion seemed to be 

 that it is effective and reliable, especially in cases of comparatively slight infestation. 

 In Maryland fumigation is regarded as rendering nursery stock free from infestation, 

 and in Delaware it is assumed to be superior to a certificate of inspection, since 

 inspection has sometimes failed to detect the presence of the scale. H. E. Summers 

 stated that in Iowa San Jose scale does not exist in nurseries. J. B. Smith stated 

 that in New Jersey infested nursery stock is allowed to be sold after fumigation, 

 under a declaration of the fact that the trees have been infested. Fumigation is 

 recommended, but all trees which are found infested even with dead scales after 

 fumigation are destroyed. This procedure was considered by others to be incon- 

 sistent and was declared to weaken the case for fumigation. 



In a resolution bearing upon the formula to be used in fumigation and the attitude 

 of nurserymen's associations toward inspection laws, the association recommended 

 the use of the 1:2:4 formula in fumigation, and expressed the opinion that it is 

 po.ssible to frame inspection laws so as to avoid trouble with nurserymen and at the 

 same time to protect the interests of both the nurserymen and fruit growers. The 

 cooperation of the nurserymen and insjiectors was urged. 



Some attention was given also to the question of treatment of infested orchards. 

 W. E. Britton stated that in Connecticut excellent results had been obtained froin a 

 wash made of equal parts of sulphid of potash and lime diluted with water. Galco- 

 theon gave poor results in New York, and E. P. Felt had also found that salt has no 

 insecticidal value in the lime, salt, and sidphur mixture. The salt was therefore 

 omitteti in spraying experiments, and a mixture was made containing 25 lbs. of 

 lime, 20 lbs. of sulphur, and 60 gal. of water. In various experiments the propor- 

 tion of lime and sulphur varied considerably, and an attempt to determine the exact 

 chemical composition of the mixture obtained was unsuccessful. Certain adhesive 

 substances added to the lime and sulphur mixture were found to cause it to adhere 

 to the tree for a longer period. Whale-oil soap at the rate of Ij lbs. per gallon of 



