54 



may be "honey-dew," bnt it does not attract, so far as I have seen, ants or other in 

 sects that are wont to gather to this sort of feast. 



As to the result to the trees, the twigs I sent to the editor of the Florida Dispatch 

 certainly had the "die-back; " that goes without saying, for they died back. I would 

 like very much to connect this new marauder with the trouble, if possible. There is 

 only one objection, or rather difficulty, but that seems almost insurmountable. I sec 

 the bug on plenty of twigs that do not die back, that absolutely decline to be in the 

 least affected. I console myself with the reflection that they have oil to spare. 



As a rule, however, the twigs do not die back unless they are very young; they blis- 

 ter and do not look well, but continue to harden and send out, some of them, new and 

 healthy-looking shoots ; others send out weak shoots that are sometimes themselves 

 affected, sometimes not, usually the twig reddens a little, but not always. There is 

 on reasonable hypothesis upon which to base the trouble except insects. I sunk a 

 shaft 10 feet in the ground between four affected trees. Two feet of gray sand (first 

 class), then 8 feet of yellow sand. After 6 feet down there were three or four thin 

 strata of red sand, one- fourth to one-half inch in thickness. At 10 feet struck 

 ■water. Drove a rod dowu 9 feet further and found no hard pan. The soil is of the 

 best pine land. The original growth was very large, soft pine trees and willow oak 

 as large as my body (and that is good size). 



As to other bugs, there are a few leaf-footed bugs; also a few Euthoctha galeator ; 

 these T have never seen doing any great damage. There are a great many of the 

 Green Soldier Bugs. I don't see them doing much sucking at twigs, though I have 

 seen some. But the trouble in my grove seems to be the same or nearly so as that 

 described by Mr. James Franklin (Hubbard, page 160). In conclusion, permit me to 

 say that the same twig blistering and dying is not confined to my grove; I find it in 

 quite a number of groves, but in none so general as my own. In not less than four 

 or five young groves, in difterent places, there are the new bugs, and there also are 

 the diseased twigs. So also in groves where the twigs are not diseased, the bugs oc- 

 cur; and in groves where are both twigs and bugs, some trees have every twig af- 

 fected aud other trees have no signs. So what would be a clincher against the bugs 

 is really turned to our confusion. — [August 10, 1887.] 



Second reply. * * * The specimens which you sent comprise not only the new 

 species of Aulacizes which accompanied your previous letter, but two specimens of 

 Proconia undata, a closely allied species, aud also a number of young of one or the 

 other, * * * It will be impossible to connect either of these leaf-hoppers or any 

 of the Soldier Bugs with the diseased condition of your trees. Their punctures, of 

 course, help to weaken the vitality of the trees, but that they are the cause of the 

 "Die back," is hardly possible. You have doubtless read what Mr. Hubbard says in 

 his report on orange insects concerning the " Die back," and this comprises the extent 

 of our present knowledge of this trouble. 



The mycologist of the Department is making studies of the fungi connected with 

 the disease of the orange, aud it is possible that some practical results may be ob- 

 tained through his investigations. For the present we can only recommend the dilute 

 carbolic or creosote washes. A few more specimens of the Aulacizes will be accept- 

 able, and you might, if you feel so inclined, send on a few specimens of the insect 

 which you know as the "Green Soldier Bug." — [August 16, 1887.] 



The Barnacle Scale Injuring Persimmon. 



You will find inclosed two twigs cut from a persimmon covered with what I sup- 

 pose to be a kiud of scale. I have seen now and then one on an orange tree, and 

 have always destroyed them for fear that it might be the Fluted Scale (Icerya pur- 

 chasi). This persimmon tree was covered with them, aud I burned it up. It is the 

 first time I have seen them in any numbers. » * * [ w. A. Marsh, Orlando, Orange 

 County, Fla., August 15, 1887. 



