STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 8'3 



to fruit trees, attracted wide attention. It reached the east on 

 nursery stock sometime between 1884 and 1887 and is now gen- 

 erally distributed throughout the country. In the south, as well 

 as on the Pacific coast, large orchards of fruit trees have been 

 entirely destroyed by this insect. It was thought that it would 

 not prove very injurious in the northern states, but in Massa- 

 chusetts many trees have been killed by it and I can see nO' good • 

 reason why it may not prove highly injurious in Maine as well. 

 It certainly is a pest to be carefully guarded against and no. 

 nursery stock should be purchased unless the same is accom- 

 panied by a certificate of inspection from a competent entomolo- 

 gist. The farmer will do well to carefully scrutinize all nursery 

 stock before planting. Should any of you be so unfortunate 

 as to have this scale on your trees, it will be the part of wisdom 

 to promptly dig and burn them if you can possibly afford the 

 sacrifice. Where owners are unwilling to destroy their infested 

 trees, the scale may be controlled by a thorough use of a strong 

 mixture of whale oil soap and water (two pounds to one gallon) 

 applied as a winter wash late in November and again in March. 

 In some cases it would appear that the scale has been eradicated 

 by this treatment. From our own experience in Massachusetts, 

 we consider it a palliative measure, only and one that must be 

 repeated at intervals. 



FRUITS OF THE ORCHARD. 



Having considered the principal fruit pests that may be con- 

 trolled by spraying, perhaps I may be pardoned for a consider- 

 able digression while I speak of some valuable friends of the 

 orchardist. I would like to emphasize the usefulness of birds in 

 destroying noxious insects. While in no way versed in bird lore, 

 I have seen enough of the habits of these creatures to convince 

 me of their great value to mankind, particularly to the agricul- 

 turist. The insect parasites that fill the most important place 

 among the natural checks upon the increase of injurious species, 

 stand in no especial danger of harm from human hands, while 

 birds suffer abuse in a hundred ways and are often most wan- 

 tonly sacrificed by those who should protect and foster them. 

 The winter birds are perhaps the most valuable ; birds like the 

 chickadee, nuthatches and creepers are continually working over 

 orchards at the time when the trees are bare and prey upon the 

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