THE ENEMIES OF PLANT LIFE 



of the family of ladybirds, became the salva- 

 tion of the fruit industry of a great state. The 

 horticultural commission of the state learned 

 that such an insect lived in Australia and that, 

 where it abounded, this scale was some way 

 held in check. Through the cooperation of 

 Thomas F. Bayard, then secretary of state, a 

 few of the eggs of the insects were secured, 

 brought to the United States, and hatched 

 out. As swiftly as possible the insects were 

 liberated in the infected regions. They proved 

 to be fully as rapid in their reproductive 

 powers as the scale. Instantly upon being 

 released near an infected tree the tiny ladybird 

 searched out the scale and began its work of 

 destruction. It throve on the service, too, 

 multiplying with almost inconceivable rapidity 

 when once the rate of progression was estab- 

 lished. It would feed on nothing else but the 

 scale. It was Nature's method of dealing with 

 any factor which threatened permanently to 

 disturb her balance. As it rose to its work 

 the orchards began putting on new life and 

 the fruit industry was saved ; millions of dol- 

 lars' worth of property, present and prospec- 

 tive, owed its existence to the tiny foe of the 



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