20 



the box in an empty cabin below tlie water line. The voyage was for- 

 tunately cool, the temperature averaging about 60^. The shallow box 

 was kept in his stateroom, as on the Cape steamer, and immediately 

 upon arrival at New York both boxes were shipped to Mr, Howard. 

 They arrived in New York in twenty-five days from Cape Town, a 

 quick passage which, perhaps, could not be repeated. Mr. Lounsbury 

 further stated that on first writing to Mr. Ehrhorn the latter took the 

 letters to Mr. Leib, a fruit grower, and Mr. Leib in some wa}" put 

 the matter in operation. Mr. Lounsbury wrote to Mr. Leib and said 

 he would try to make a success of the matter, and advised him to get 

 oleander plants and infest them with black scales and have things so 

 arranged that he could put the plants under cover. He suggested 

 further to Mr. Leib that if he should receive a sending of parasites on 

 cut twigs the boxes should be opened in a closed room so as to allow 

 the parasites to fly to the windows. This was the only way that 

 occurred to Mr. Lounsbury for the removal of the secondary para- 

 sites. The primaries were to be collected and then liberated with the 

 scale-stocked oleanders. As regards the oleander plants to come later, 

 he had planned to prevent secondary parasitism, which he thought 

 would be better if it could be carried out. 



Mr. Lounsbury asked if there had been much experience to show 

 the best method of sending parasites, and if it would be well to freeze 

 them ? He knew before he left Cape Town that the parasites in ques- 

 tion would keep emerging for a month in closed jars in his oflice. 



Mr. Howard replied that he did not think we could say yet what is 

 the best way. One thing is certain, however, and that is that tin 

 boxes should never be used in sending from the Tropics. 



Mr. Gillette asked if it is quite certain that the Blastophaga is only 

 three brooded in its native home. 



Mr. Howard replied that they have lost track of the insect in its 

 native home during a period of about two months and there is a possi- 

 bility that thei-e may be in certain places in Mediterranean regions a 

 fall brood. The condition of their knowledge over there is more or 

 less incomplete. 



Mr. Johnson asked if the black scale in South Africa is destructive 

 to citrus trees to the same extent as in California. 



Mr. Lounsbury stated that he had seen citrus trees infested in only 

 about ten places in the last five j^ears in South Africa, and never more 

 than a few scales at any of these places. Occasionally he had seen the 

 scale on citrus trees from Natal or from Australia which had been 

 imported to the Cape. One orchardist having several thousand trees 

 said he had seen a little on his Australian trees, but it had disappeared. 

 Mr. Lounsbury was unable to find any there after a year from the 

 importation. 



Mr. Fletcher asked of what country the scale is a native. 



