INSECTS DAMAGING ORANGE TREE. 121 



once begins to suck the sap like the aphis from 

 the bark and leaf of the tree wherever the scale 

 happens to be fastened. It finally develops into a 

 diminutive fly undiscoverable with the natural eye, 

 except when late in the afternoon they can be seen 

 between the observer and the declining sun when 

 the tree infested is suddenly jarred. The effect pro- 

 duced by their sucking is first to deplete and finally 

 to exhaust and kill the branch and leaf to which 

 they cling. Several remedies have been found effect- 

 ual. The most effective yet known to the writer is 

 a decoction of tobacco with sufficient carbolic soap 

 to make a strong suds. Apply with a garden syringe 

 or pump, through a perforated nozzle. Kerosene, 

 in the proportion of one part of kerosene to eleven 

 of water, applied in the same manner, is effective. 

 But there is danger if too much be used. A mod- 

 erate amount is a good fertilizer and stimulant to 

 the tree. As there is no chemical affinity between 

 the kerosene and water, the mixture has to be kept 

 vigorously stirred during the time of applying it. 

 Either of these applications has to be repeated two 

 or three times, at intervals of ten or twelve days. 



Another insect similar to the one just consid- 

 ered, but with scale of lighter appearance and of 

 rounder form, is also damaging to the trees. This 

 insect seldom attacks either the leaves or the tender 

 wood, but confines itself mainly to the bark of the 

 wood from one to four years old. They are easily 

 and effectively removed by washing the trunks 



