426 BOAliD OF AGKICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



In 1893 the .scale a})peared in Virginia, having jn'obably 

 been received there from New Jersey, and two nurseries in 

 the latter State proved on examination at this time to be 

 infested Avith it. These nurseries had been experimenting 

 with i)limi stock from California in the hope of finding a 

 variety which would be " curculio proof," and the scale was 

 probably brought east on this stock and spread all through 

 the nurseries referred to, both of which did a large wholesale 

 business in the eastern and middle States. Stock sent out 

 Avas therefore infested by this scale, Avhich spread in the 

 nurseries to which it Avas sent, and thence Avent out in the 

 retail sales to all parts of the countr3^ With such nu'thods 

 of distribution it is no Avonder that this scale is now Avorking 

 destruction in nearly every one of the United States, and in 

 Canada and foreign countries. In Massachusetts it is now 

 knoAvn to occur in over a hundred cities and toAvns, often 

 causing nmch loss, and it is probably presi^nt in many other 

 })laces from Avhich it has not as yet been reported. 



Food PJantK. 



This scale seems able to live on almost any plant, but is 

 of little importance on those Avhich die to the ground each 

 winter, as, Avhen this happens, any scale on the dead part 

 also dies, and it does not appear to locate below the ground. 

 It seems to prefer for its food plants of the botanical family 

 Rosacea% for it thrives best and becomes injurious-; to plants 

 of that grou}), Avith a fcAV exceptions, more ({uickly than on 

 those of any other grou]). As the Rosacete includtss most of 

 our fruit trees, small fruits, roses, thorns and Spirteas, and 

 as the scale is also a serious enemy to currants, gooseberries 

 and grapes, nearly all our fruit-bearing trees and })lants are 

 included in the list of its favorite food plants. It is also 

 found on elms, maples, birches, willows, poplars and many 

 other trees and shrubs, and has once been reported on spruce 

 and arbor vitje, but in these cases it is doubtful if it often 

 thrives sufficiently to kill the plant it is on. When it occurs 

 on such food plants, hoAvever, it is no less a menace, as from 

 them it may spread to other trees and shrubs in the neighbor- 

 hood, less resistant to its attacks. 



