FOURTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 8i 



tree \vhen the younp^ are crawling. This is simply a mechani- 

 cal method of spreading-, and the young scales can probably 

 n(^t crawl o\er the grciund from one tree to another, and can 

 onlv reach adjacent trees by themselves when the branches in- 

 terlace. 



You all know the methods which we are using to combat 

 this insect. The lime and sulphur mixtures have been used 

 extensively during the past season. More than 100,000 trees 

 have been treated in Connecticut, and in most cases the results 

 have been satisfactory. The boiled mixture has been used 

 chiefly, and the salt may be added or left out ; it seems to make 

 little difference in regard to the eft'ect on the scale, and to the 

 adiiering qualities. Great promise has been given by some of 

 the mixtures that liave been prepared without boiling. You 

 will remember that last year I showed you some of the sodium 

 ■sulphide that we were using in the preparation of the self- 

 boiled mixture. This could not be obtained in convenient form 

 for use at that time, but it can now" be obtained from the Roess- 

 ler & Hasslacher Chemical Company of New York in a 

 crushed form in drums containing iioi lbs., each at a cost of 

 33^ cents per lb. In making this mixture we can use about 

 20 lbs. of wliite\\-ash or finishing lime, about 10 lbs. of sulphur 

 and 10 lbs of sodium sulphide. The lime is started slaking, 

 and the sulphur and sodium sulphide added, and stirred con- 

 stantly. After the action of the lime has ceased, allow it to 

 stand for about thirty minutes, then dilute and apply to the 

 trees. The caustic soda mixture recommended by the New 

 York Experiment Station at Geneva, New York, has also 

 given good results in Connecticut. This may be prepared 

 by using 20 lbs. of lime, 14 of sulphur and 5 lbs. of caustic 

 soda, the caustic soda being added to prolong the boiling, as 

 heat is generated when the caustic soda and the hot lime are 

 jHit together. This should also stand for about thirty min- 

 utes before diluting and applying. The potassimn sulphide 

 and lime also gave good results during the past year, and 

 this is a very convenient method of treating a few trees in a 

 garden or back yard. It is too expensive, however, to apply 

 to orchard trees. 



