214 : EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 
young shoots upon which no trace of the scale could be found, although on the old stump 
many of the scales which had been killed by the treatment given them last winter 
were still discernible. Besides these two badly infested trees, those which were slightly 
affected and had been severely cut back last winter and then treated, had made vigorous 
growth. Upon some of these a very few living scales were found, showing that, 
although the treatment with whale-oil soap was extremely effective, rendering it possible 
to find the scales only by very close search, yet it was not absolutely so, as there were a 
few still alive. Mr. Van Horn had attended to this matter very carefully, being much 
interested in it and being also keenly solicitous for the welfare of his neighbours. 
Every tree in his orchard had been sprayed, and he intends to repeat the operation 
regularly during the coming season. 
Mr. Thonger’s letters : 
“ Niagara, May 10.-—I have discovered San José Scale on several of my trees, but 
do not think it is in any other orchard in the neighbourhood as yet, as nobody seems to 
know anything about it. I have dug out several dwarf trees—the worst—and sprayed 
with whale-oil soap solution all those immediately surrounding the infested spot. That 
was on Thursday last, and I thought these looked cleaner a day or two after, and I 
almost regretted that I cut down the others ; but this may be fancy. I feel considerable 
responsibility i in the matter and shall be glad of any information you can give me.’ 
“May 11.—I send you to-day some infested twigs (pear tree). I have selected them 
with the object of showing the difficulty of detecting the scale when only a few are 
present, rather than the extreme stages, when, the whole trunk being covered with a 
mass of scales that hide the bark, it is obvious enough. 
‘“‘T noticed only one tree last summer and was struck by its disgusting appearance. 
This tree was planted eight years this spring. Including this tree, I have taken out to 
burn seven trees as too badly infested to cure, and left about as many nearly as bad, 
to spray. The infested stock must have been from F. C. Young, Rochester, N.Y., and 
planted in May, 1894; or perhaps with a replace not later than 1895. This would 
indicate that the scale may spread one or two seasons without being observed, or even 
longer, or migrate from the infested stock and develop quicker in the new location. 
The infestation is evidently very slow in developing to such an extent as to attract 
attention, unless it happens to strike a pear tree-or one as favourable to its growth and 
development. The scale appears to have started in the south-west corner of a plot and 
spread north and east to some 5U trees. I must spray the whole plot, and will try and 
keep you informed of my progress. 
“My farm is well situated for isolating the attack. On the lake shore there is noth- 
ing to take the infestation to the north-east or west,—I think the wind has much to do 
with spreading it—and the infested area is well sheltered by woods from all quarters but 
south-west to south-east. I think it would be quite to the interest of the fruit growers 
of this country if the Department of Agriculture would send an expert here to examine 
into the matter on the spot, and decide what is the best thing to do and to assist in 
carrying it out. 
“Ttis clearly of the utmost importance to prevent the scale from getting a foothold 
in the country. The Black Knot experience shows that the individual growers will not 
take the pains to eradicate a pest that does not kill the tree at once, but this sort of 
action will not do in this case. Rather than assume the responsibility, as well as the 
cost, of attempting to fight the pest myself, I would rather cut down and burn every 
infested tree ; but I do not think that course would be in the best interest of either the 
country or myself.” 
“May 27.—I have been making a tree-to- (eae examination through the orchard, 
taking row by row and have found two peach trees much farther away from the pear 
trees than the dead tree of which I sent you samples. The nearer tree is one about ten 
years old. I think the confidence we have had in the precautions to keep the scale out 
of the country is largely to blame tor the hold it has now among us. I cannot look at 
this tree without the conviction that, had I even glanced at it three years ago with scale 
in my eye, it must have been detected at once. Even last summer, wher seen on the 
pear tree, [ was quite unsuspicious, and only when two men who Lave been among fruit 
