84 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



hardihood of the best species and varieties for the northeastern 

 states. 



The winter of 1903-1904 was the .severest test that conifers have 

 been subjected to in many years in this country. A few conifers 

 we were experimenting with were killed outright, and quite a 

 number were severely injured. We were therefore able to form 

 important deductions about the hardihood of a number of species. 



Some species of conifers are liable to attack from different insect 

 pests. During the past two or three years, the Arbovitae has been 

 infested by a small caterpillar which bores into the tips of the 

 young twigs and turns them yellow and rusty, and soon gives the 

 whole tree a very sickly appearance. It is said to be a serious pest 

 in some parts of Canada. Dr. James Fletcher, Entomologist of 

 the Experimental Farms in Canada, gives a brief account of it in 

 the annual report of the Experimental Farms for 1906. Dr. 

 Fletcher states that large numbers of parasites are found active in 

 connection vrith the insect and there is every reason to believe the 

 outbreak will soon come to an end. I have seen its ravages in 

 natural ArborA-itae plantations in Western New York. I do not 

 know to what extent it prevails in this country as the account in the 

 Canadian report is the first published description I have seen of it. 

 From the nature of its operations it can be seen that it is difficult 

 to deal with by any spraying methods. 



The mite known to gardeners as red spider is a very serious pest 

 on some spruces and junipers in many parts of this country. It is 

 always worse in a dry season. It can be readily controlled where 

 there is a strong pressure of water under command applied with a 

 hose, but that is rarely available. Water applied with a hose from 

 a powerful spray pump will dislodge it. John F. Johnston, Super- 

 intendent of Mr. Paul Dana's estate in Long Island, who is an 

 expert cultivator of conifers, has lately been using sulphur to destroy 

 it on spruces and junipers. He blows it on with a bellows in the 

 morning when the dew is on the branches, followed at intervals 

 throughout the summer with occasional strong, hose sprayings of 

 water. Mr. Johnston tells me that the experiments, which he has 

 conducted for a short time, appear to be effective and satisfactory. 



The White Pine weevil causes serious injury in many parts of 

 the country. It sometimes attacks spruces and other pines, but 



