30 The San Jose Scale in Japan. 



" As yet neither good spraying machines nor the best insecticides have 

 been used for the destruction of the scale, it has spread as much as nature 

 has permitted ; however the farmers use a few simple methods of destroying 

 the pest such as soap suds, a solution of canstis soda, kerosene and kerosene 

 mixture. The soap suds, kerosene and kerosene mixture are applied with a 

 Japanese paint-brush, a primitive way of proceeding, and often kill the small 

 branches without affecting the insect ; solution of caustic soda (one pound of 

 caustic soda to about ten gallons of water) is applied by means of clothe - moist- 

 ened with the solution, and afterwards the trees are washed with pure water. 



After rain farmers go out into the orchards with old rope or cloth and 

 rub off the scale, while the trees are wet. With proper methods of fighting 

 the scale, especially by aiding its natural enemies, the scale can be checked in 

 Japan." 



When our station once took up the subject and the fruit growers and 

 farmers had learned something about the pest, the method of fighting the 

 scale was wonderfully developed ; the use of machines and insecticides and 

 methods of application to prevent its spread were taught by lectures, talks and 

 by other practical means, which have proved to be very effective. The work 

 which the fruit growers and farmers carry on has been superintended by 

 members of our station and of local experiment stations ; badly infested tree? 

 and shrubs have been destroyed by fire ; and when orchard were small, or the 

 trees in a garden or yard comparatively few, such trees were dug up and 

 burned at once. Nurseries have been inspected with special care by the 

 specialists, and all doubtful trees have been destroyed ; all stock shi))ped from 

 any nursery is now carefully inspected ; the plants exported from Yokohama 

 or other ports in Japan are treated with insecticides, so that the pest can not 

 possibly remain on the plants. 



We are not fighting the pest with the most advanced methods as they 

 are in America by means of gas, and horse or steam pumps, but using chiefly 

 kerosene and kerosene mixtures or son:ie other insecticides with the best 

 home made pumps or American ones that can be procured ; however in our 

 small orchards with cheap labour and the aid of natural resistance, the fight- 

 ing is done with wonderful success. 



