i6 The Connecticut Pomological Society 



PLANT-LICE 



The pear psylla, Psylla pyricola, Forst, was abundant and 

 caused much injury. Mr. A. B. Plant sprayed some of his 

 trees at Branford about June lO with lo and 15 per cent of 

 kerosene mixed with water. Had the application been made 

 about three weeks earlier it would probably have been much 

 more effective. As it was, few of the insects were killed, and 

 they damaged the trees as usual. Neither the 10 nor the 15 

 per cent mixture injured the foliage. 



Mr. Plant also used the 15 per cent mixture against the 

 purple aphis, Aphis mail., Koch, on young apple twigs. Both 

 the new growth and the lice were destroyed. Shrubs of Spiraa 

 Van Houttei and Japanese quince, Cydon'ia Japonica, were sprayed 

 by the writer on June 23, with a 10 per cent mixture to kill 

 plant-lice; the lice as well as the foliage remained uninjured. 

 Dr. Sturgis used a 15 per cent mixture on Spiraea at his place, 

 and killed the lice without injuring the foliage. The apple aphis, 

 Aphis mall, Koch, was sent to your committee from Newington 

 and New Haven. 



THE PEACH- LEAF MITE 



A peculiar metallic lead -colored appearance of the foliage 

 of certain trees has been prevalent in many peach orchards of 

 Connecticut during the past season. On examining these leaves 

 with the microscope, the surface cells forming the epidermal 

 layer appear as if their contents had been destroyed and con- 

 tained bubbles of air. At first the trouble seemed like one of 

 a purely physiological nature, which might have been caused 

 perhaps by the protracted drought, as no evidence of parasites 

 was discovered. But the same trouble occurred in the vicinity 

 of Washington, D. C, where it is thought to be the work of 

 a very small mite belonging to the genus Phytoptus. It is 

 certain that the mites are found in connection with this pecu- 

 liarity of the foliage, but it has not as yet been ascertained 

 how the mite causes the injury, nor even established definitely 

 that the mite is wholly responsible for the trouble, though 

 such is thought to be the case. This mite does not form galls, 



