APHIS 149 



calyx cup. Others believe in a fine, mist-like spray which shall 

 reach all parts of the tree. This is the type of spray which 

 is most in favor. All agree that the spraying should be very 

 thorough and that it is best to make the first spraying within a 

 week or ten days after the petals fall from the blossoms, using 

 3 pounds arsenate of lead to 50 gallons of water. A second 

 spraying is usually made three or four weeks later. In sections 

 where several broods are produced it is necessary even to spray 

 three or four times for this insect. 



Avoid Spraying When Trees Are in Bloom. Another im- 

 portant point is the desirability of avoiding spraying while the 

 trees are in bloom. Authorities differ as to just how serious 

 a matter it is, but there seems to be considerable evidence to 

 show that the bees may be killed by such a spray. It is also 

 probable that the pistils may be injured if the spraying is done 

 just when they are in the most tender condition, which is when 

 the trees are in " full bloom." In any event there seems to be 

 nothing gained by spraying when trees are in bloom, over spray- 

 ing just after the petals fall. It is certainly worth while to 

 avoid any chance of injuring either the. bees or the blossoms. 



Aphis. This is the most discouraging group to fight, of all 

 the "bugs." So far as winning the fight is concerned the 

 writer had far sooner tackle the San Jose scale. With the latter 

 there is a well-defined course of treatment, and if one follows 

 this carefully there is no question about success. With the aphis 

 one never knows quite what to do, and when the best possible 

 has been done, the result usually leaves much to be desired. 



The life history of the aphis is as- follows: It passes the 

 winter in the egg state and these eggs will be found as little, 

 shiny black objects looking much like weed seeds, clustered 

 about the buds on last year's growth. They hatch very early in 

 the spring, usually before the buds open, into little, dark green, 

 almost black, lice which will be found on the expanding buds, 

 and, later, on the under side of the leaves. The leaves soon curl 

 up and protect the insects almost perfectly. The later genera- 

 tions of the young are produced alive, and as it requires but 



