210 



Reply. — * * * The insect sent is one of onr Ijirgest ^vater l)iigs, and is com- 

 monly known as the Giant Water Bng. Its scientific name is Beuacus (friseus, ami it 

 is frequently attracted to the electric lights in cities, but except as attracted to light 

 is seldom met with. The name Electric-light Bug is, therefore, not at all inappro- 

 ])riate. This insect lives in the water, both iu its early stages and as an adult, and 

 feeds ixj)on other water insects and small fishes. — [March 16, 1891.] 



The Woolly Root-louse of the Apple. 



* * * I am thankful for your information and advice, and note fully what you 

 offer as a cure and remedy. I j)ut out an orchard of 1,000 trees last February. The 

 weather and season were very favorable to young trees, and they had a good chance 

 to do well, if, in my opinion, they had not received this blight or injury in the nursery 

 before they were set out. Out of 1,000 trees I find over 700 in a sickly and dying condi- 

 tion. I must confess that I was not posted in buying my trees, but I have learned 

 a lesson, and a severe one. I commenced my orchard by cutting out the brush and 

 timber and breaking and cultivating three times. The trees were set out and in 

 about two months I noticed that, while all had put out some leaves and showed some 

 life, the leaves soon commenced to turn yellow and refused to grow. I then examined 

 several that were dead, and found some diseased I'oots, such as I sent you. After- 

 wards, the more I took up the more I found to be affected, until I came to the sad 

 conclusion that all my trees were in the same condition. Not Avishing to start out 

 in this way with a lot of patients on hand needing doctoring and care, 1 thought I 

 would try to find out what was the matter, and perhaps I could learn Avhat would 

 cure them; but I fear the remedy will cost more than a new tree. Hot water for 

 1,000 trees, besides the emulsion and the cost of application, would cost far more 

 here than new trees. Now, what I am coming to is a few questions, and will you be 

 kind enough to answer them ? 



(1) If new trees will cost $4. .50 to $6 per 100, would it not be best to get new trees 

 rather than try to cure the disease by hot water and kerosene emulsion. 



(2) As the ravages of this insect are ajiparent on all my trees, will it be wise or 

 safe to try a cure and let them stand ? 



(3) Have you any data to show that diseased trees attacked by this louse have 

 been cured and made healthy, strong, and fruitful trees? Would not a doubt still 

 exist, even if a remedy had been administered, that the tree might never amount to 

 a,nything? 



(4) Would I be safe in planting new trees in the same old hole when these had 

 died and been pulled up ? Would the disease probably be left in the ground on the 

 removal of the diseased tree? 



(.5) Had I better pull these up, take them to some convenient and safe place, burn 

 them, and have a man spade or shovel out the place of setting and would there then 

 be any danger in replanting? 



(6) Older fruit-raisers claim that I had better remove the trees, plow up the entire 

 ground and let it be exposed to the action of winter weather; and some even go to 

 the extent of saying that I run risk in planting any sooner than another year. What 

 is your opinion ? 



(7) Some say my ground gave the disease to the trees. If it were in the ground, 

 would the disease be all alike ? There is no difference in any part of the orchard 

 and there was never an apple tree near it before. It had been forest or bush land 

 previously, all new, and my opinion was and is that these trees were diseased and 

 affected before I got them. What is yours? 



(8) If I take up these trees and burn them, how had I better prepare the grounrl 

 for the new ones? Can I put on lime or ashes in the same place, and how long be- 

 fore would I be safe in planting ? 



(9) Does this louse attack other trees besides the Apple ? 



