THE SCALE-INSECT. 



181 



" At this time the insect appears almost lifeless, and 

 probably it has ali-eady committed all the injury to 

 the tree it is capable of inflicting : this injury con- 

 sists in the abstraction of the juices of the tree. 

 Around each minute paper domicil may be seen a 

 discolored spot. It is not unusual to see a tree of 

 eight or ten feet in height with every part of the 

 stem and many of its branches whitened by this 

 injurious insect. Xo tree thus attacked can be healthy. 



" Trees situated in grass lands, or otherwise neglect- 

 ed, peculiarly invite this sloven's pest. Slow-growing 

 varieties of the Pear are more subject to it than the 

 rjipid growing kinds. 



" We will now consider the means of destroying 

 this troublesome insect. It is probable that the time 

 in which the injury is committed is during the sum- 

 mer months, although the insect, being not then 

 invested with its paper-like covering, can only be discovered with diffi- 

 culty. The practice of washing the trunk and main branches of fruit- 

 trees with a mixture of soft-soap and water, one part of the former to 

 two of the latter, applied with a coarse cloth, using considerable fric- 

 tion, can not be too highly recommended for the health and general 

 thriftiness of the orchard. This application should be made in the 

 spring, before the swelling of the buds, and again in early June — this 

 time, however, greater care is necessary to avoid injury to the young 

 shoots. The young insect is then about commencing its summer depre- 

 dations, and all that escaped the spring washing maybe easily destroyed. 



" "Where soft-soap can not be obtained, common hard-soap may be 

 used instead ; half a pound dissolved in two gallons of hot water. 

 Harris recommends a solution of two pounds of potash in seven quarts 

 of water, or a pickle consisting of a quart of common salt in two gal- 

 lons of water. No preparation,, however, I believe to be so safe and 

 efficacious as the one first mentioned. 



"Whale-oil soap, or even common hard-?oap, placed in the 'crotch' 

 of the principal branches, and allowed to remain until washed down 

 gradually by the rains, will be found excellent for the general health 

 of the tree, and prevent the attacks of this and many other insects. 



* Fig. 3 is a magnified view of the Female Bark-Lonse before depositing her eggs. 



