-78 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



President Eddy: I would like to ask 'Mr. Skillman to 

 answer number five on the question list. Is fumigation of 

 nursery stock an effective means of holding San Jose scale 

 in check ? 



Mr. Skillman: No; and I will say, gentlemen, it is one 

 . of the most foolish laws 'we have got on our statute books. 

 We have got a New Jersey fumigation law, and I have had to 

 . send to Maryland to get some trees, and I tell you I have 

 ^ had some bitter and sad experiences in this fumigation busi- 

 ness. I bought a thousand plum trees at one time, and 

 out of that lot I lost 75 per cent, and I lost my time and 

 trouble and all that sort of thing, and I am thoroughly sat- 

 isfied that fumigation did it. I know of lots of other instances, 

 and I have come to the conclusion that fumigation is inju- 

 rious, and what is more, Prof. John B. Smith of New Jersey, 

 who was the instigator of the law. said last fall in the 

 Rural Ne-cv Yorker that fumigation always weakens a tree to 

 some extent, and if he ever spoke the truth he did then. 



Prof. Bennett : Would you recommend taking the 

 nursery stock and dipping the trees to the roots in sulphur 

 and lime wash before transplanting? 



Mr. Skillman: The proper way to do, in my judgement, 

 is to dip the trees in the sulphur wash, and be careful and 

 leave the roots out, and as you dip the trees, turn them up on 

 the top end and let the liquid run off, rather than run down on 

 th*e roots. I would prefer dipping the trees, and it is a very 

 easy job, and if there is any scale on it will be effective. And 

 it is a sure thing, if you have got the scale, to keep it off the 

 roots. I don't know as it will kill, but it is my belief it 

 will kill the roots. I would advise everj^body to dip the trees 

 in that way, but don't have them fumigated. 



A Member: How hot is your solution that you dip the 

 tree in ? 



Mr. Skillman : Well,, you don't want it boiling. That is a 

 matter I ought to explain ; I have never done much dipping 

 and that is the reason it didn't occur to me. I would have 

 it merely lukewarm. 



Prof. Slingerland: I don't like to dift'er with anybody, 

 ; but I think my friend has missed the point, which is, is fumi- 



