INTRODUCTION. 



}\o insect is just now of more iiuportunce to the fruit-growers of 

 Maryland than that which has been designated as tlie ^^an Jose Scale, a 

 name, given to it because it first became known, or was tirst particularly 

 noticed around San Jose, California. It is exceptionally injurious, usu- 

 ally causing the death of the affected trees; occurs on a great variety of 

 deciduous trees and has great power of multiplication. It was only in 

 the Autumn of 18U3 that the presence of this insect, which is one of the 

 worst with which California fruit-growers havi- had to deal, was sus- 

 pected on the Atlantic Coast. It was then thought to he restricted in 

 its range, and I had hopes that it might he effectually stamped out. 

 lint during the past year it has been found at, or reported from, so many 

 new localities in the East, all the way from Florida to Xew York, in- 

 cluding the States of Maryland and \'irginia, that there is no hope of 

 l)eing able to exterminate it. It has come to stay, but as it is possible to 

 very materially limit its injury and spread, and hy proper precautions 

 to prevent its introduction iibto districts in which it does not yet occur, 

 I feel warranted in giving a pretty full account of the species in the 

 present bulletin. 



As will be seen from the context of this bulletin, it is already 

 reported from points in Charles, Kent, Talbot, Anne Arundel, TrincA- 

 (Jeorge's, AA^'ashington and Frederick counties, Maryland, and it is my earn- 

 est hope that all into whose hands this l)ulletin may fall and who recog- 

 nize the scale upon any of their trees will at once send to the station speci- 

 mens with as full account as possible of the extent of the infection. ( )ther 

 .-pecies, not in the same way to be dreaded, will frequently be confounded 

 with it, and the entomologist will l)e glad to examine specimens that 

 may be suspected and make pro]»er report and, where necessary, visit the 

 localities. It is only by making a thorough sui-vey of the State for 

 infected centers that we may hope to succeed in limiting or still further 

 restricting the range of the species, and in this work the fruit-growers 

 themselves may materially assist liy correspondence with the Station and 

 should do so for theii- own good. 



The illustrations were })repared for the Department of Agriculture 

 and are used bv the courtesv of Secretary ]\Iorton. 



C. V. K. 



