362 Report op the Horticulturist of the 



suck the juices from the young leaves and twigs. Where the 

 nymphs are numerous they take so much nourishment from the 

 trees that the new growth is seriously checked. The whole tree 

 assumes a stunted, unhealthy appearance. The fruit crop of course 

 is greatly lessened and, in some instances, trees have been killed. 

 The first brood in the spring does the most damage. 



Remedy. — The insect is most easily killed in its young stages, so 

 when the leaves are unfolding in the spring close watch should be kept 

 for the appearance of the nymphs. They should be looked for be- 

 tween the axils of the leaves and the stem, as they have a habit of 

 collecting at such points. At the first appearance of the pest no 

 time should be lost in spraying the trees with kerosene emulsion. 

 For this purpose the emulsion may be used as weak as one part of 

 the stock solution to twenty parts of water. The treatment should 

 be repeated if more of the nymphs appear. 



"When spraying with kerosene emulsion it is absolutely necessary 

 that the spray hit the insects, as it is not a poison but kills by con- 

 tact with their bodies. Therefore, the trees should be drenched, 

 instead of simply coating the leaves over with the mist-like particles, 

 as is one of the essentials in applying Bordeaux mixture. 



Slug. — The adult insect is a small, dark colored, four-winged fly. 

 The slugs make their appearance in the latter part of May or early 

 June. At first light in color, they soon become darker, and are 

 covered .with an abundance of slime. The slugs feed on the upper 

 surface, skeletonizing the leaves. Leaves that are badly injured 

 wither and fall, and where the insects are very abundant they cause 

 serious injury. 



Remedies. — If upon examination it is found that the insects are 

 likely to appear in sufficient numbers to cause much damage, no 

 time should be lost in spraying the trees with Paris green. If the 

 trees are being treated for fungous diseases the Paris green should 

 be combined with the Bordeaux mixture. A second brood of this 

 insect usually appears in August. The only thing to be done is to 

 spray when the indications are that the slugs are numerous enongh 

 to be injurious. On low trees they are sometimes treated with air- 

 slaked lime or road dust, by throwing the dust or lime over the 



trees. 



Plvin. 



Black Knot. — This disease causes swellings underneath the bark, 

 finally rupturing it and developing a spongy texture covered with 



