CHESHIRE INSTITUTE 59 



So far as my observation goes this-'scale (the scurfy bark-louse) is always 

 of a light gray color, which makes it very conspicuous against the dark- 

 colored bark. The San Jose or pernicious scale is much smaller than 

 either of the other two, and is distinctly circular in outline. Its color is 

 dark gray, though it often appears nearly black upon the bark. It is 

 convex, with a slight projection or nipple in the center, which is black. 

 Often half-way from this nipple to the edge of the scale is a grayish ring 

 or band concentric with the general outline. It is very easy to distin- 

 guish the San Jose scale from either of the other two which I have 

 mentioned, but the trouble lies in the fact that the scale is so very small 

 that it is likely to escape notice until the tree is badly infested and 

 begins to show signs of weakening. 



There is a circular scale in Connecticut, — and probably it can be 

 found in almost every currant patch, — which so closely resembles the 

 pernicious scale that it requires an expert entomologist with a compound 

 microscope to tell them apart. This is known as Putnam's scale {Aspid- 

 iotus ancylus). But, so far as I know, it occurs here only upon the 

 currant, and is not sufficiently abundant to do much injury ; so that if a 

 scale of this description is found on anything but a currant, one may be 

 tolerably sure that it is the pernicious scale. If any sort of a circular 

 scale is found on a currant it should at once be sent to an expert, for it 

 may be either species. 



I believe we must still continue to use great vigilance and persistence 

 in examining our orchards and nurseries, and in applying treatment in 

 case the scale is found. Waiting for natural enemies to appear is, after 

 all, a lazy man's practice, and we do not want that sort of thing among 

 the members of the Connecticut Pomological Society. 



J. C. Eddy, of Simsbury, opened a discussion on "The 

 Growing and Marketing of Small Fruits," giving an account 

 of his methods of handling the strawberry, as follows : 



The plants are set when the soil is dry, using a machine 

 planter which waters and sets the plants at one operation. 

 This plan succeeds, and the plants grow well. As soon as 

 possible after setting, he begins cultivation, using a Breed's 

 weeder and cultivating quite shallow. The weeder has 

 curved teeth and does not injure the young plants. A ton 

 of complete fertilizer is used to the acre, in the course 

 of several applications. A fertilizer containing 3^ per 

 cent of nitrogen, 10 per cent phosphoric acid and 7 to 10 

 per cent of potash, is a good one to use for strawberries. 

 The plants are cultivated thoroughly all through the season, 

 not deep but often being the rule. Spraying with Bordeaux 

 for the blight was advised, using a barrel pump and about 

 twenty-five feet of hose. 



