REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 213 
Mr. Martin Burrell, of St. Catharines, a trained observer and a practical fruit grower, 
who has studied injurious insects for many years, one, therefore, who was well calculated 
to observe and record any matters of value bearing upon the presence and increase of 
the San José Scale and the general condition of any orchards visited. All of these 
gentlemen, as well as Mr. M. G. Bruner, of Olinda, Essex Co., Ontario, who has observed 
carefully since its discovery the occurrence of the San José Scale in the orchard of Mr. 
John D. Wigle, at Kingsville, have favoured me with voluminous notes upon this im- 
portant subject during the summer, and, as their experience and notes, both as to means 
by which orchards have become infested and the effect of measures adopted to control 
the spread of the San José Scale, are of general interest, I give herewith lengthy extracts 
from their letters. 
Mr. Van Horn’s letters : 
- “Chatham, Kent County, Ont., Jan. 12, 1897.—I have, unfortunately, got San 
José Scale on a lot of fine young plum trees. I am preparing to dose them with the 
‘California mixture mentioned in your report of 1894.” 
“Jan. 19.—I send you cuttings of Simoni plum and Lombard plum covered with 
what I think is San José Scale. Kindly give meall information at hand.” 
“Feb. 11.—Yours of the 9th received with thanks. Two years ago this spring I 
ordered a lot of plum trees from Parry’s ‘ Pomona’ Nurseries, New Jersey. Among the 
lot was one dozen Simoni plum trees—a fine lot of well grown and handsome trees. After 
putting out, they all grew finely ; all made vigorous growth in spite of a very dry sum- 
mer. During the summer I received a circular from the nurserymen saying that San 
José Seale had got into their trees, imported from California, and stating that no further 
danger need be feared, as they were disinfecting all stock after discovering the pest. 
I paid no more attention to it, as my trees were doing so well. I did not notice any- 
thing wrong till this winter, and one day while going through them I noticed four of 
the Simoni looking sick, the bark looking as if dusted with ashes. As the disease was 
new to me I sent samples to them, as well as to you. They (Parry’s) like yourself, 
answered that it was the dreaded scale all right, and recommended digging out and burn- 
ing if badly affected, and if but slightly, to wash with whale-oil soap. I cut off two 
trees near the ground, intending to drench the stumps and let the trees sprout again 
from the roots. Those only slightly affected, I cut back severely and have sprayed with 
the salt, sulphur and lime mixture and will go over them again shortly with the same, 
and then later on will give them a dose of whale-oil soap suds. 
“The trees were ordered direct from the nursery and not by agents, so there may be 
no more in this part of the country. I have examined a number of my neighbours’ 
orchards, but can find no trace of the scale. Tam very anxious to wipe it out, so that 
it may not spread tomy neighbours’ orchards, as well as the rest of my own. IfI 
thought it necessary, I would dig up and burn all infested trees, but with your kind 
assistance by way of advice, I would be delighted to master it otherwise. Iam very ° 
fond of fruit growing and dislike very much to be beaten by such things as San José 
Scale or any other pest and will conquer it if I can.” 
** April 8.—I got the trees from Parry’s nurseries. I gave my son-in-law, who 
lives a few miles from me, a nice Simoni tree. I did not see the tree again till last 
week, when I was helping him trim his trees. On coming to his Simoni, which he was 
very proud of, as it had grown so much last summer, I said, ‘You had better get your 
spade and dig it up at once,’ for it was crusted all over with scale. I took my magni- 
fying glass and let him see for himself. I did not loose sight of the tree till it was in 
the fire. I could see no signs of the scale on his other trees, and I hope they are not 
infested.”—[J. Van Horn. | 
At the end of the season Mr. Van Horn wrote to me that he believed his orchard 
was quite"clear of the scale. During the month of December, 1897, I visited his 
orchard and examined the trees very carefully. I found the following state of affairs, 
Of the two trees which were badly infested, one had been dug up and destroyed 
entirely, the other was cut off last winter within a few inches from the ground and 
thoroughly drenched with the “lime, sulphur and salt” mixture and subsequently with the 
whale-oil soap solution. This stump had thrown up during.the summer, some vigorous 
