rible results in an orchard when once estab- 

 lished. Its ravages have caused widespread 

 alarm, and unless checked soon causes entire 

 destruction of the trees infested. The trees be- 

 come entirely covered with the scale, so that no 

 portion of the bark can be seen. The fruit also 

 becomes covered in the same manner and is ren- 

 dered unfit for use. The losses caused by the 

 ravages of this insect cannot be easily computed. 

 Whole orchards are literally destroyed by it. 

 In many cases those who have recognized its 

 presence and destructive power in time have 

 made most strenuous efforts to stay its spread 

 and save their trees, but it has hitherto been, to 

 a great degree, discouraging, owing to the diffi 

 culties encountered in fighting an unknown foe. 

 Within the past two years, however, great 

 progress has been made in destroying this in- 

 flect, and it is now considered certain that we 

 have an efficient means of ridding ourselves of 

 one of the most dangerous pests known to fruit 

 growers. 



The trees attacked embrace every kind of 

 deciduous fruit trees except the Black Tarta- 

 rian cherry, and it is supposed two or three 

 other black cherries. Some varieties are less 

 liable than others to its attacks, but we have 

 found it upon all other trees than those ex- 

 cepted above. 



Poplar and other ornamental and shade trees 

 give it a support. It infests hedges of Osage 

 orange and the wild cherry, many of which 

 have been destroyed in the past two years, and 

 have been dug out. It is found on the currant, 

 and quickly destroys the bush. It has been 

 found upon rhubard, and tomato plants growing 

 in orchards among infested trees. This scale 

 evidently prefers some varieties of trees, but 

 yet, when placed upon others not so well liked, 

 will stay and colonize to some extent. 



The effect of this scale insect upon the 

 tree is peculiar. After a short residence 

 there, the green layer of the bark be- 

 comes stained a very dark red color, which 

 continues until the death of the limb or 

 f ree unless the insect be killed. The bark may 

 then be restored to its normal color and health. 



A Financial Aspect. 



The damage in Santa Clara county has already 

 become so great as to cause the most serious 

 losses not alone to the fruit growers, but also to 

 the public at large and from the orchards ef- 

 fected has greatly lessened the revenue which 

 lias been derived from the production 

 and sale of fruit. One instance stated defi- 

 nitely will suffice to show these losses. 



This orchardist states (1881) that he has 2,000 

 trees badly infested with scale;. 1,000 of these 

 trees are totally destroyed, and will be dug out 

 ibis season; the balance are badly injured, but 

 can probably be saved. This portion of his or- 

 chard in health returned at least $5,000 per 

 year. His loss on crop from these trees in 1880 

 \vas over $2,000. For 1881 there was a total 

 loss of crop on 1,500 trees. This orchard has 

 regularly paid an interest of 10% on $1,000 per 

 "ere. The scale pest alone has cost a loss of 

 820,000 to the owners. 



Further on reference will again l>e made to 

 this orchard. The Assessor's roll for 1881 re- 

 ports in this county 335,537 bearing trees of the 

 apple, pear, plum and peach. This does not 



include the large number of trees which have 

 been destroyed and are unfruitful; neither the 

 immense number of young trees that have been 

 planted, but not yet paying; and, as observed, 

 it leaves out the large number of other varie- 

 ties, cherries, a] moms, apricots, etc., in bearing, 

 which, it is estimated, would make a grand 

 total of 1,000,000 trees. Should the losses ex- 

 perienced by the orchardists now suffering be 

 carried out to all, you can readily estimate the 

 astounding result. The value of the Santa 

 Clara county fruit crop for 1880 was returned 

 at $976,475, notwithstanding the immense 

 losses incurred. The sworn statement of the 

 Assessor, now before rne, says "That all fruit 

 trees in Santa Clara county are assessed as im- 

 provements at the following prices: Trees in 

 full bearing, free from scale, $1.50 per tree; 

 trees bearing, affected with scale, from .00 to 

 50 cts. per tree, and that there is a large num- 

 ber of orchards situated east and northeast from 

 the city of San Jose, badly infested with scale 

 (and after naming some, say?), and in conse- 

 quence are assessed at .00 to 50 cts. per tree." 

 From this it will be seen that the revenue de- 

 rived from taxation is seriously affected by the 

 presence of this pest upon our orchard trees. 



The Assessor's roll for 1882 gi^es of the four 

 varieties of trees named above apples, peaches, 

 pears and plums bearing trees subject to tax- 

 ation 280,347, a deduction from the previous 

 year's assessment of 55,190 trees. This loss is in 

 fact upon apple, plum and peach trees, as the 

 young pear trees coming into bearing, and be- 

 ing assessed for the first time, more than equal 

 the loss on that variety. So it is seen that the 

 loss in assessed value on these three kinds of 

 trees totally destroyed has amounted in the one 

 year to $82,785. This is actually but a small 

 part of the loss, as other varieties of trees des- 

 troyed, and the losses of previous years from 

 the scale as well as the reduced value of trees 

 affected but still bearing, cannot well be enu- 

 merated. These trees were destroyed before 

 the application of proper remedies; now, how- 

 ever, from the knowledge of correct treatment, 

 these losses will soon cease, and the taxable 

 property of the county be immensely in- 

 creased. I feel assured that the next assess- 

 ment will show a decided improvement. Thus 

 the magnitude of this evil becomes apparent, 

 and the problem to be solved is of vast impor- 

 tance. 



Description of this Pest. 

 From the study we have given to this scale 

 during the past three years it may be briefly 

 described as follows: The scale insect is massed 

 upon the bark of the tree and fruit as well, the 

 scale of a dark gray or blackish and tough ma- 

 terial which covers the insect being very small 

 and round in shape over the female, while that 

 covering the male is much smaller and elongated 

 on one side. In both, the higher and central 

 portion of the scale has a yellowish color, and 

 directly under which may be found the insect 

 itself, which is soft and delicate in structure 

 and of a pale straw color. There is no con- 

 nection between the cover and the insect, which 

 is merely protected by it from harm. The shell- 

 I like scale is formed by either the cast-off skins 

 i of the larva or by a waxy secretion of the body 

 j of the insect. The microscope shows the young 

 i female insect oval in shape and flattened. At 



