Specific Pests 151 



hawthorns, poplars, ornamental cherries, plums, currants 

 and spireas are infested by the San Jose scale. 



They are \'ery productive, breeding in July and December, 

 and spreading readily, as in the case of the well-known cot- 

 tony cushion scale on orange trees in California; the white 

 pine scale and the cottony maple scale, which occur also on 

 other species, are perhaps the most common and are recog- 

 nized by their white, waxy, fluffy excretions. 



Judicious pruning or trimming in winter or mechanical 

 dislodgment is the most practical remedy. Spra}'ing with 

 kerosene emulsion enforced by soap suds (three quarts 

 of kerosene emulsion and one pound of whale-oil soap 

 dissolved in eight gallons of water) during the winter or in 

 early spring before the protecti\-e scales of the new genera- 

 tion are formed is next best; the insect must be hit by the 

 application, the spraying should be thorough, and should be 

 repeated at least once. A lime-sulphur wash, or else "scale- 

 cide," a petroleum preparation, which is more easily handled, 

 may also be applied satisfactorily. 



Root-lice, in so far as they are not merely phases of the 

 before-mentioned, are also scaly, covered with a whitish 

 excretion; remedies discussed on page 148. 



Grasshoppers. Some of the "katydids" or long-horned 

 grasshoppers become in some seasons obnoxious by feeding 

 on foliage, and laying their eggs in young twigs and leaves, 

 causing them to die. 



Spraying, collecting, and burning the litter (fallen twigs) 

 may- be practised, if chickens and turkeys do not keep them 

 in check. 



Walking-sticks and the peculiar ''Praying-mantis'' or 

 Rearhorse feed on the fohage of the trees, but are rarely im- 

 portant. If necessary, spray, or burn the rubbish in which 

 the eggs hatch. 



