MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 139 
- These are less injurious to'plants and less common than those previously — 
mentioned. They are generally found in the form of a scale adhering to 
the stems and leaves of plants that have been kept in dark and badly ven- 
tilated green-houses and rooms, and where plants are crowded close together. 
They seem to flourish in the myrtle, ivy and oleander. The full grown 
scale is about one-tenth of an inch in length and of an oval or egg shape. 
This scale is not the insect proper, but a substance that forms or grows 
over the female to provide a protection for the eggs or young. If the full- 
grown scale is carefully lifted and placed under a microscope, a great num- 
ber of eggs or active young, will be discerned, of a brownish or yellow 
color, having six legs, which they use with considerable dexterity, aud after 
they escape from the maternal shelter they ramble around until they find 
a Suitable place for feeding, when they fix themselves to the leaf or branch 
for life. Over the little insect a light colored film soon forms, and continues 
to increase in density and size until the insect attains its growth and pro- 
duces its young, which in turn undergo similar changes, and are trans- 
formed into other scales. The effects are of a corroding nature. They ex- 
_ tract the juices, and in time the foliage will assume a yellowish and decaying 
appearance, and the growth of the plant will cease. The best remedy is 
rubbing off with a stiff brush, or washing frequently with strong soap-suds, 
using a piece of sponge tied on a small stick, scrubbing every leaf and 
crevice. 
Thrips. 
The thrip is an active, jumping insect of very minute size, of various 
colors, from yellow to dark brown. They generally lurk close to the veins 
of the leaves of plants and luxuriate in shaded situations, and are very 
destructive when they get a foothold. The remedy is fumigating with 
tobacco, or the warm water bath recommended for the Aphis. 
JOHN S. Harris. 
REPORT OF GENERAL FRUIT COMMITTEE FOR DISTRICT NO 1. 
La CreEscENT, MiInn., Jan. 16th, 1877. 
The fruit crop of this district last year (1876) exceeded in quantity that of 
any previous year. Strawberries, raspberries and currants were a medium 
crop, but not as fine quality as in some previous seasons. Grapes were a 
light crop, owing to a failure to set well in the spring, but ripened well and 
were of good quality. The apple crop exceeded our most sanguine expec- 
tations, and were it not for the extreme hard times, it would give a new 
impulse to the planting of trees. The Duchess, Fameuse, St. Lawrence, 
Price’s Sweet, Plumb’s Cider, Haas, Sops of Wine, Utter’s Red and Astra- 
chans are among those doing the very best. The Walbridge still promises 
well, and fruited for the first time. Some varieties that flourished before 
the hard winter of 1872-3 are now extinct in this region. The blight pre- 
vailed pretty freely, and the crabs and some of the crab men are feeling a 
