314 



STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The insect is very minute, but quite characteristic. The scale ia 

 tough and papery, with a broad grayish white margin, surrounding a> 

 darker elevated portion. Another feature by which it can be recogn- 

 ized is a peculiar reddening of the bark under and around the scale^ 

 It is very gregarious, the female scales crowding together upon branches 

 and twigs until they are piled upon one another and present the ap- 

 pearance of a thick and unsightly scurf. They also cluster upon 

 growing fruit, producing much distortion of form and discoloration of 

 the skin. 



Two or three parasitic flies have been bred from this scale in the 

 East, but not in such numbeis as to give promise of much assistance 

 in its extermination. 



In the way of remedies Mr. Howard and others have found nothing 

 absolutely reliable, but a strong solution of whale oil soap H or 2 

 pounds to 1 gallon of water, thoroughly applied during winter or early 

 spring, to every part of the tree. Strong kerosene emulsion comes 

 next in value, while the various lye and caustic soda washes, effective 

 against most bark-lice, cannot be depended upon as a remedy for this 

 species. 



Where only a few trees are found to harbor the scale, it would be 

 the best economy to dig out and burn, to prevent the wider spread of 

 so dangerous an insect. 



Missouri seems as yet to be practically free from it, and with 

 proper precautions on the part of nurserymen and planters it may for 

 many years, if not forever, continue to enjoy this immunity. 



THE PLUM OR PEACH CUECULIO. 



fConotrachelus nenuphar, Herbst.^ 

 This preeminent enemy of all stone fruits has not heretofore been 



represented in our Horticultural Society's "rogues gallery" of insects ;. 



but at last here we have him, to paraphrase the old saying, larger than 



life and more than twice as natural. His 

 proper size is represented at d, engaged in 

 carving his (strictly speaking her) Turkish 

 autogrtiph on a young plum. Every or- 

 chardist is well acquainted with the little,, 

 hard, rough brown beetle and its soft mag- 

 gotlike larva, but the enlarged figures give 

 us a more perfect idea of the distinguish- 

 ing characters in the various stages of de- 



Tlie Pum Curcullo ( Conotrachelus iT<ilnr»mant 

 nenuphar) a, larva; b, pupa; c, vciupiueui. 



Sd= i'^ceTal^.elkfr\Z's I should be rejoiccd to tell the peach^ 



representing true size. After j i d oa a j.u a 



Kuey. and plum-growers of our State that a per- 



