ENTOMOLOGY. 119 
two or more quite regular rows, also to some extent along the side 
ribs. The infested leaves turn purplish brown but do not have a 
tendancy to fall. When occurring upon the fruit, the scales have a 
distinctive peculiarity in that they are invaribly surrounded by a 
purplish discoloration of the skin of the fruit,and this discoloration 
is also noticed to some extent on the young, growing twigs. The 
cambium layer of the wood beneath the scale is stained purplish to 
some extent. In winter the scales upon twigs are difficult to dis- 
tinguish. They lie close to each other, frequently overlapping, and 
can only be distinguished with a magnifying glass. The general 
appearance which they present is of a grayish, very slightly rough- 
ened, scurvy deposit. The natural, rich, reddish color of the limbs 
of the peach and apple are quite obscured when the trees are 
thickly infested, and they have then the appearance of being covered 
with lime or ashes. When the scales are crushed by scraping, a 
yellowish, oily liquid will appear, resulting from the crushing of the 
soft, yellow insects beneath the scales.” 
Both the round and flat headed apple tree borers are occasionally 
found in this part of the state and more are being introduced in 
nursery stock from other states. They will, if left alone, soon prove 
avery serious pest. All trees received from nurseries should be 
carefully examined for them before planting out. The presence of 
the larvae can generally be detected by a discolored, deadened or 
punctured patch of bark above the roots or by the powdery excre- 
ment thrust out of the crack or opening where they have entered. 
The insect should be promptly probed or dug out and the wound 
covered with grafting wax before the tree is planted. It is said that 
a few drops of kerosene turned into the orifice will find its way toand 
destroy the grub without any injury to the tree; I have not tested it. 
Keeping trees clean, healthy and thrifty is among the best preven- 
tatives. Also, washing the trunk of the trees witha strong solution 
of soap or kerosene emulsion in June and July will destroy the 
larvae before they have penetrated through the bark. 
For a number of years the currant worm had been a serious pest, 
but for some reason they were not nearly asnumerous last year and 
have done little damage. On my own place, but one infested 
leaf was found. The year previous we used hellebore and hot water 
freely. I think that for a few bushes in the farmer’s garden, the hot 
water remedy surpasses all others. To apply it, the bushes must be 
kept clean from weeds or grass and the suckers cut or pulled away 
from the base. Then have ready a pot of boiling water, beat the 
worms from the bushes with a cane or stiff rod; they will all fall to 
the ground; then apply the water with a garden syringe or through 
the nose of a watering pot. 
Last fall we received from Carver county a root of native plum 
containing a borer which we were not able to identify. The speci- 
men was forwarded to Professor Lugger, who also could not iden- 
tify it in the larva state. If any of cur members should find them 
in the roots of plum trees when digging this spring, no doubt Pro- 
fessor Lugger would be glad to secure specimens in the wood, and 
by observing there transformation, could locate them. 
