14 FARMERS’ BULLETIN 650 
CONTROL MEASURES. 
As has been already stated, the San Jose scale, in the absence of 
proper treatment, will quickly bring about the death of many plants 
of economic importance. Its discovery, therefore, whether in orchards 
or on prized fruit trees and other plants in the yard, should call for 
prompt steps toward its control. It has been amply demonstrated 
that the scale may be very successfully controlled, and practically its 
presence merely requires one thorough treatment during the dormant 
period each year. On account of the general distribution of the pest 
extermination measures are, In most cases, out of the question. 
Complaint sometimes comes from orchardists who have the scale 
to contend with that the control of the insect is neglected by their 
neighbors, and they believe this neglect adds materially to their own 
work. Undoubtedly the scale will spread from orchard to orchard, 
but thorough annual sprayings will prevent important injury irre- 
spective of neglect in adjacent orchards. 
Where plants are thoroughly incrusted, with consequent death of 
branches and stunting of growth, it will generally be advisable to dig 
out the trees at once and replace with new ones. Before spraying 
infested trees the dead and weakened wood should be pruned out, 
which will simplify the work of spraying and will hasten the forma- 
tion of new, sound wood. 
THE WASHES IN USE AGAINST THE SAN JOSE SCALE. 
There are several scale washes which may be employed in the con- 
trol of the insect, and the one should be selected which can be most 
conveniently used and which is economical under the circumstances. 
Thus, for spraying on a large scale, the orchardists could properly 
afford expenditures for the construction of cooking outfits for lime- 
sulphur wash which would not be justified where only a few trees 
were involved. For a few plants .it would be better to use some one 
of the prepared washes put up by manufacturers. In fact, many 
large orchardists prefer to use sprays of this class in preference to 
making the washes at home. The possibility of injury to the trees 
from the sprays must also be borne in mind. All treatments, if pos- 
sible, should be made during the dormant period (that is to say, in 
late fall or early spring, or even during the winter in mild climates), 
since at this time washes may be applied at much greater strengths 
than when the trees are in foliage. The aim is to use the wash about 
as strong as the tree will stand, thereby securing the maximum kill- 
ing effect upon the insects. Used in this way the washes of the 
petroleum or kerosene series are most likely to cause injury to the 
fruit buds and tender twigs, and the lime-sulphur washes least likely 
to do so. Fish-oil soap sprays as recommended for dormant trees 
are comparatively safe, though reports are at hand of injury to 
