THE SCALE-INSECT. 179 



SO infested with them, that the most vigorous efforts 

 must be exerted to clear it of the enemy. Some 

 of my trees had, by neglect, become so badly 

 affected, that I saw no remedy would preserve them, 

 and was compelled to cut them down. When the 

 cocci are washed away, the bark appears rough and 

 blotched, and presents a diseased appearance. 



"Washes.— A solution of soda, or potash in water, 

 not stronger than one pound of soda to one gallon of 

 water, or one pound of potash to two gallons of water, 

 is efficacious. But washes of this strength must not 

 be applied to trees in foliage. 



Whale-oil soap, dissolved at the rate of one pound 

 to three or four gallons of water, is a most effective 

 wash, and the efficiency is increased when the soap is 

 dissolved in a decoction of refuse tobacco. Camphor 

 is sometimes added ; but this gum is somewhat costly. 

 The wash of whale-oil soap may be used stronger, if 

 applied when the leaves have fallen. 



For the following, I am indebted to the pen and 

 pencil of Mr. A. O. Moore. 



"If in the month of October the vigilant cultivator scrutinizes his 

 young pear trees, he may be surprised at finding many of them 

 strangely covered, on trunk and limbs, with a white substance, which at 

 first may seem to be a mold or mildew, such as would be engendered 

 by a damp situation. Upon attempting to scrape this off, a claret- 

 colored liquid will smear the stem as if with blood. ' A close examina- 

 tion will show that this white substance is composed of small paper- 

 like scales. If a scale is removed carefully so as to expose the under 

 surface, it will at this season be found to cover a minute dark-red 

 object, surrounded by yet smaller dust-Uke atoms. This is as far in our 

 investigation as the unaided vision will carry us. A good microscopic 

 lens will, however, reveal a family composed of a mother (as seen at 



