SELECTING THE TREES 33 



In examining nursery stock as it arrives in 

 the hands of the planter there are several in- 

 sects and a few diseases that should be watched 

 for, aside from the purely physical condition 

 of the trees. The San Jose' scale has perhaps 

 created more excitement than any other one 

 pest. It is one of those Asiatic contributions 

 that have done much to create unrest among 

 our fruit-growing population. It is not so fatal 

 as has been supposed, but there is no need 

 for any one deliberately to plant trees infested 

 with it. The individual scales are readily de- 

 tected by the eye and on young trees will more 

 frequently be found clustered around the buds. 

 They are to be distinguished from any other 

 scale you are liable to find by the fact that they 

 are perfectly round in outline and the center is 

 slightly raised in the form of a small cone. 

 Crushed, they are found to contain a yellowish 

 juice although the color may not be very ap- 

 parent. If the tree has been infested for some 

 time the bark beneath the scales will be stained 

 red under the surface. 



The scurfy scale is often found on nursery 

 stock and often is a cause of alarm but usually 

 can be ignored. It is a whitish elongated in- 

 sect, closely pressed to the bark. 



The oyster-shell scale is a native and found 

 on many native trees and shrubs. I have found 

 it along the borders of the Great Lakes up to 



