30 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



origin. During the last few years the prevailing opinion 

 has been that it came from Japan. Since it,s arrival in the 

 United State;^ vain searcb has been made here for a preda- 

 tory or parasitic enemy to hold it in check. Our scientists 

 adhered to the belief, however, that such a natural enemy 

 could be found in the original home of the scale ; and, the 

 indications seeming to point to Japan as the place of origin, 

 the department decided to make a thorough investigation 

 there, with the hope of finding the desired predatory insect. 

 One of our entomologists was accordingly sent to Japan last 

 year to make the quest. During an investigation of several 

 months he was surprised to discover that wherever the scale 

 was found in Japan it appeared on imported stock, indicat- 

 ing that it could not have originated there. On the 

 contrary, the conclusion was reached that the scale, instead 

 of coming from Japan to the United States, as originally 

 supposed, made its way to the island empire on fruit 

 imported from America. Convinced that the scale was not 

 indigenous to Japan, the department's expert proceeded to 

 China, going first to Chefoo. About Chefoo he discovered 

 the scale in considerable abundance ; but, as imported fruits 

 were growing therq as well as native stock, it was impos- 

 sible to tell whether or not the scale was indigenous. Pro- 

 ceeding to Pekin, however, he found a condition that was 

 conclusive. In that neighborhood, where exclusively native 

 fruits were growing, the scale was still present. From 

 Pekin to Tientsin, and beyond towards the great wall, it 

 occurred quite generally, but in limited numbers, on native 

 fruit trees. Throughout this region it was held in check 

 by an cfBcient natural enemy in the form of a ladybird 

 beetle. Live specimens of this valuable beetle were gath- 

 ered in considerable numbers to be brought to Washington. 

 Strangely enough, all of these beetles died en route except 

 a single pair. Soon after the pair's arrival at the depart- 

 ment a brood of about fiity made its appearance. These 

 American-born specimens reproduced in turn, until quite an 

 extensive stock of the insects is now thriving in our insec- 

 torium, where they feed voraciously on the scale. The 

 stock will soon be large enough to permit the distribution 



