86 The Connecticut Pomological Society 



have seen that section. You can scarcely find a scale in that 

 region to-day. .1 couldn't find it. I have some specimens 

 taken from the original region w^here it was first discovered. 

 While that little parasite is abundant there, and no doubt is a 

 factor in destroying the scale, there are other factors which 

 you must consider. 1 have been looking for this little fellow 

 in the east for the past five years, but up to last fall I had 

 only five or six specimens secured from districts outside of Cal- 

 ifornia. Last fall I found one location in Maryland, and 1 

 took some of the infested twigs from the trees back to my 

 laboratory. I found those trees were literally covered with the 

 parasite. In one instance I removed over 1,400 of these par- 

 asites (Fig. 9) from a few branches about the size of a lead- 

 pencil. That will give some idea of the concentration of 

 natural forces on these things occasionally. What did I do ? 

 Well, I had advised the growers to destroy every tree in that 

 orchard. My advice had been that so long as there was any 

 scale to burn every solitary tree. I had to go back on what 

 I had advised them to do the day previous. It is, of course, 

 our duty to conserve all these natural enemies of the scale, 

 and if we had cut down all those trees we would have burned 

 all those natural enemies. At the same time, by cutting the 

 trees and piling the brush in that orchard, there was no possible 

 danger of the scale spreading. It does not thrive on dead 

 trees, and, as the female does not move, there was no danger. 

 At the same time, such a course would afJord an opportunity 

 for these natural enemies to escape and concentrate their forces 

 on trees infested with the scale. So you can see we scientific 

 fellows don't know much, after all. We may tell you one day 

 in positive, unqualified language to do a certain thing — and 

 we do it in all sincerity because we believe it is for your good 

 — but, at the same time, we may telegraph you the next day 

 to do exactly the opposite. That is what we are here for: to 

 work out these things if we can, and give you the benefit of 

 them. So much, then, for these parasites, which are the nat- 

 ural enemies of the scale. We must consider them, but do not 

 lay back on your oars and think that you are going to float to the 

 opposite bank in ease. You are not going to make any money 

 in the orchard business without a fight to take care of it. 



