347 



do was right enough, but it was ouly waste of time. In this country 

 they have their ' British growl,' as they call it, but they don't roll up 

 their sleeves and go at it the way we do in America, and it will be a 

 long time before any governments do anything to help them to mind 

 what it is fairly their own business to attend to. But it is all the bet- 

 ter for the few that do. " — Orchaedist in the Neiv Zealand Farmer. 



A WINTER WASH FOR SCALE INSECTS. 



We learn from the Pacific Rural Press of December 13, 1890, that the 

 horticultural commissionersofSutterCounty, California, are recommend- 

 ing the following formula for use during the winter months on all decidu- 

 ous trees infested with the San Jose scale. It is said that the formula 

 has been used with great success throughout the State : 



40 pounds unslacked lime. 

 20 pounds sulphur. 

 15 pounds common stock salt. 

 Water to make 60 gallons. 

 Boil 10 pounds of lime and the 20 pounds of sulphur in 20 gallons of water for 

 half an hour or more, or until both lime and sulphur are dissolved. The sulphur 

 must be thoroughly dissolved and mixed with the lime ; the mixture will then be of 

 an amber color. Then slack in an empty half barrel 40 pounds of lime, with soft 

 hot water, using enough water to thoroughly slacken the lime and keep it in liquid 

 form. After the lime is slacked, add 1^ pounds of common stock salt, while the ma- 

 terial is still hot. 



When the salt is well dissolved, mix the two lots together with sufficient water to 

 make 60 gallons of spraying material, which will then be a thin whitewash. The 

 material should be strained, after being thoroughly mixed, through a fine wire strainer. 

 Apply the wash milk-warm or warmer, with a spray pump. 



Use either a New Bean nozzle or a San Jos^ nozzle. If the latter is used the usual 

 brass disk accompanying it should be replaced with a rubber disk to prevent the 

 material clogging the nozzle. Use only when foliage is oif the tree. 



With the exception of the salt this formula corresponds very well 

 with the "Eureka Insecticide" manufactured by Mr. E. Bean, Jackson- 

 ville, Florida, which is of considerable use against the rust-mite on the 

 orange and the six-spotted mite. It is by no means efficacious in the 

 same degree against scale insects. 



LADY BIRDS VERSUS SCALE-INSECTS. 



Mr. Dudley W. Adams, in the Florida Farmer and Fruit Groiver for 

 October 9, 1890, gives a very interesting and charmingly written account 

 of his experience in orange raising at Tangerine, Orange County, B'lor- 

 ida, showing that a native Lady Bird, the species of which is not men- 

 tioned, completely cleared his trees from scales as soon as he had stopped 

 applying washes. Mr. Adams was extremely fortunate, and his expe- 

 rience was exceptional. In general, the advice given by Mr. S. Sanders 

 Neck, in the issue of the same journal for September 11, should be fol- 

 lowed in Florida. He says concerning kerosene emulsions: 



If they kill the lady bugs, never mind; it is a poorly managed grove that depends 

 on these insects to destroy scale. Nothing short of kerosene emulsion is eliective. 



