EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING 75 



of this kind is already being done at some centers by a 

 few of our members. 



In matters of legislation your Committee has prepared 

 and caused to be presented to the present General 

 Assembly, a bill, making an appropriation of $500 per 

 year to our Society for the further extension of its good 

 work. With a little help from officers and members of the 

 Society it is believed that this bill will become a law, and 

 that the Society will be able, in future, to print its pro- 

 ceedings and further extend its educational work in institutes 

 and field meetings. 



Respectfully submitted, 



J. C. Eddy, Chairman. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON INSECTS 



The Pear Psylla 



One of the prominent features of the season which we 

 are called upon to record is the prevalence of the pear 

 psylla, Psylla pyricola, Forst., which was unusually abundant 

 throughout the state. It was first noticed at the experiment 

 station about July i, and had then caused some injury to the 

 pear trees. 



The pear psylla is a jumping plant-louse about one- 

 tenth of an inch in length. It injures the trees by suck- 

 ing sap from the tender twigs. A sweet, sticky substance, 

 known as "honeydew," is exuded by the insect and soon 

 covers the foliage, if the species is abundant. A black 

 fungus grows in the honeydew. The leaves turn red or 

 yellow and fall prematurely. 



This psylla is somewhat hard to control, and an in- 

 secticide which kills by contact, like whale-oil soap or 

 kerosene emulsion, must be used against it. The best time 

 to apply it is just after the leaves of the pear tree expand 

 in the spring. Honeydew is not then abundant and a 

 thorough application will destroy many of the insects. 

 Later applications should be made just after heavy rains, 

 as the honeydew is then washed off and the insecticide is 

 much more likely to come in contact with the insects. 



