36 



species which are injurious to fruit trees and other plants, 

 several of which are to be found on the citrus fruits. 



It is not the purpose of this little work to go exten- 

 sively into the history, habits and description of the scale 

 insects, injurious to the orange, but it i enough to say that 

 they exist in countless mil. 1 ions, and that scarcely a grove 

 or tree is to be found which has not more or less of these 

 pests among its leaves, fruit or branches. 



They attach themselves to the bark of the leaves and 

 branches, or rind of the fruit, and live by sucking the 

 juice from the tree. They multiply very fast, and a few 

 individuals finding lodgement oil a tree will soon cover its 

 entire surface if no means are employed to lessen their 

 numbers. 



For a description of the scale insects, their classifica- 

 tion and habits, the reader is referred to the writings of 

 Prof. Comstock, Dr. C. J. Kenworthy and W. H. Ash- 

 inead. These gentlemen have investigated the subject 

 thoroughly and given a minute and graphic description of 

 these miserable little nuisances. When a tree has become 

 affected with scale to any great extent, it soon takes on H 

 sickly appearance. The leaves, which were a dark shining 

 green before, IIDW look sallow and pale ; the trunk and 

 branches which were smooth and lively, are rough and 

 shriveled, and the bark looks as though it was drawn 

 tightly over the wood ; in fact the tree has the appearance 

 of being " hide bound/' and ceases to grow almost entirely. 

 The business of the fruit grower is now to rid his trees of 

 the scale, renovate the trees, and cause them to begin life 

 anew. 



