EXPEEIMEXT STATIOX EEPOET. 605 



terdon coimty wbicli had been treated to a carbolic acid banding 

 earlier in the season with absolutely no good result. 



The only direct experiment was made by Mr. Dickerson on a 

 small bearing peacb, very scaly, the trunk of which was painted 

 with the crude carbolic acid Augiist 23d. On September 29th 

 there was no ijerceptible injury to the bark directly, or to the 

 general health of the tree, while there were 2>lenty of living scales 

 with fresh sets and crawling larvas all over it. The same tree was 

 made the subject of another experiment on the later date. 



It is a very attractive idea to treat the scale in so easy and inex- 

 pensive a. manner, and some farmers have suffered so much loss 

 that they are ready to grasp at almost anything that promises 

 relief, especially if it is easy to apply and involves no labor in 

 IDxeparation. 



Dr. B. D. Halsted, the botanist tO' the Station, informs me that 

 the outer bark takes no part in feeding a tree, and that there is no 

 circulation through it. The sap is carried through the layer ber 

 tween bark and wood and only the liquids pirepared b}' the root- 

 systeni are carried through it. It would be impossible for carbolic 

 acid tO' enter unaltered into the general circulation, and even if 

 all that could soak through the outer bark was carried into the 

 sap as rapidly as it worked through it Avould be so diluted when it 

 reached the leaves and twigs as to be imperceptible. 



Carbolic acid is a good insecticide for some purposes and will 

 kill the pernicious scale when applied to it, but there is no evidence 

 at present that it will kill in any other way. 



"Whale Oil Soap. 



This well-tried material has been used as a winter wash in a 

 very few cases, although frequently recommended and sometimes 

 used as a. summer application. 



One large peach orchard had been treated with soap for two 

 successive winters, but in 1905-06 a change- was made to the lime, 

 salt and sulphur wash. When examined by Mr. Dickerson the trees 

 were in excellent condition and the orchard was very free from 

 scale. 



In another locality some large, bearing plums had become so 

 scaly that it was a question A^'hether to take them out or let them 



