30 THE REPORT OE THE No. 19 



Several scale insects are more or less common in New York State 

 orchards. An old and common enemy is the Oyster Scale (Lepidosaphes 

 uhni, Linn.), a species which is sometimes quite abundant upon young fruit 

 trees and is especially likely to be numerous on ash. It is easily controlled 

 bv thorough applications of either a whale oil soap solution or a kerosene 

 emulsion, the latter part of May or early in June at the time the yellowish 

 yuung are most abundant. The Scurfy Scale (Chionaspis furfura, Fitch) is 

 another old enemy, which in recent years has proved somewhat more destruc- 

 tive than the Oyster Scale mentioned above. It can be controlled in the 

 same way. The San Jose Scale (Aspidiotus pcimiciosus, Comst.) has become 

 well established in a number of sections in New York State and our more 

 progressive growers are quite confident of their ability to keep the insect in 

 check. Early spring applications of a lime-sulphur wash, or a miscible or 

 so-called ".soiuble" oil are the two methods most extensively employed. AVe 

 think it safe to say that by far the most of our fruit growers rely upon some 

 preparation of a lime-sulphur wash and, as a rule, obtain very satisfactory 

 results. The application is generally made in the spring, the^more thorough 

 growers making a practice of giving two sprayings, with the wind in 

 opposite directions, whenever possible. 



In conclusion, we wish to call attention to one of the most important of 

 economic insects. The welfare of our forests, the preservation of our shade 

 trees and the production of large quantities of farm produce, while valuable 

 and in may ways essential to happiness, is of no avail if life be in danger 

 by 'reason of neglect of ordinary sanitary precautions. The ubiquitous 

 House-fly, tolerated for ages and assumedly an inevitable nuisance (not to 

 use a stronger word) has come to be regarded as one of our most important 

 economic insects. This change in attitude is due to the recent discovery that, 

 under certain conditions at least, the House-fly may be an important factor 

 in the distribution of typhoid fever and the germs responsible for certain 

 other grave intestinal disorders. It is stated that there are 350,000 oases of 

 typhoid fever annuallv in the United States, about 35,000 proving fatal. 

 R-'ecent investigations in the Citv of New York, conducted under the auspices 

 of the Merchants' Association, show a remarkably close parallelism between 

 the abundance of flies and the occurrence of typhoid fever and related infec- 

 tions. It is not necessary at this time to give full details respecting this 

 insect. The House-fly is a child of filth with inherited tastes perverted 

 beyond the possibility of reclamation. Furthermore, its breeding places are 

 comparatively restricted. It is entirely within practicability to reduce its 

 numbers to an almost negligible quantity He who is indifferent to this 

 insect and its possibilities might well dance on the edge of a. crumbling 

 cliff overhanging a deep chasm inhabited by one of the most hideous forms 

 of death. This is strong language. The situation justifies it. The suffering 

 of a typhoid patient and the heavy pall of grief falling upon the afflicted 

 family, cannot be adequately depicted by words. The true relation of the 

 House-fly to the welfare of man must be known. This bearer of malignant 

 germs should be excluded from our homes and a campaign begun which 

 should eventually result in the practical eradication of this insect from the 

 haunts of man. 



