INSECTS INJUEIOUS TO CITRUS TKEES. 



97 



as described under the head, Black Scale. 

 Male insect, winged; color, thorax and 

 body dark brown, abdomen red; antenna? 

 dark colored, with light brown hairs ex- 

 tending from each joint; wings brown, 

 irridescent. 



TREATMENT FOR SCALE BUGS. 

 [From the Bulletin of the Los Angeles Horticultu- 

 ral Commission.] 



* In all cases of infection from the white 

 cottony cushion scale, it is recommended 

 that the trees be thoroughly sprayed pre- 

 vious to any pruning. This plan is deem- 

 ed the better one, because the danger of 

 scattering and spreading the insects is 

 much less than in the practice of cutting 

 back or thinning out the trees previous to 

 medicating. If properly and thoroughly 

 used this first application will kill a con- 

 siderable proportion of the bugs, many of 

 which, if the trees were first pruned or 

 cut back, notwithstanding the use of great 

 caution and care in removing brush to the 

 fire, would fall to the ground and seek 

 adjoining trees or plants for food and 

 breeding spots. 



Use for spraying white scale, 35 pounds 

 whale-oil soap, 4 gallons coal oil (110 fire 

 test), to every 100 gallons of water. The 

 coal oil must be made into an emulsion 

 with the soap first, then add balance of 

 soap and water, in the following manner: 

 First, boil the soap in as little water as pos- 

 sible, as the soap must be thick to take up 

 the coal oil and make a proper emulsion. 

 When thoroughly dissolved and well boil- 

 ed, place five gallons of this hot soap in 

 an empty barrel, some distance from the 

 boiling kettle, to prevent accident from 

 fire; then add coal oil and churn vigor- 

 ously for about ten minutes, with a stick 

 with cross pieces about five inches wide 

 at the end, forming a T. If the mixture 

 at this time turns to a thick crearn, pour 

 in a little cold water say two gallons 

 and churn again for a few moments; then 

 add five or more gallons of water. Do not 

 pour in water all at once, but a little at a 

 time, and churn constantly while pouring 

 in the water. This mixture, when prop- 

 erly emulsified, will form a whitish, 

 creamy substance. The most particular 

 attention must be given to making the 

 emulsion properly, otherwise the oil, not 

 being incorporated with the soap and wa- 



ter, will rise to the top, and while portions 

 of the tree will receive an overdose of 

 kerosene, other parts will get little else 

 than soap and water. The result will be 

 unsatisfactory, for the coal oil must go 

 with the soap to do effectual work in kill- 

 ing the bug. 



As soon as practicable after the first ap- 

 plication, proceed to cut back and thin out 

 the tree, burning the brush as near the 

 tree from which it is taken as possible 

 without danger of injury to it. A large 

 canvas under the tree during the pruning 

 will, if carefully disinfected at the finish, 

 prove of considerable benefit. A band of 

 rope, thoroughly smeared with coal tar, 

 about the trunk of the tree, first putting 

 a band of leather or thick cloth over which 

 to tie the rope, will prevent the insect from 

 ascending, and tend to indicate its presence 

 and location for future treatment. Cases 

 of ordinary infection can undoubtedly be 

 cured if the above is carried out faithfully 

 arid to the very letter, and by keeping 

 such close watch over the trees that the 

 reappearance of the bug .is at once fol- 

 lowed by an application of the spray, be- 

 fore any time has lapsed for breeding and 

 spreading. In aggravated cases of infec- 

 tion, where t,he bug has a strong hold 

 upon the tree, topping, careful brush 

 burning and hand scrubbing must be re- 

 sorted to. But even in such cases the use 

 of the spray at first would much simplify 

 the work and lessen the danger of scatter- 

 ing and spreading the scale bugs. It is 

 highly necessary to success that all weeds 

 in the vicinity of infected trees should be 

 carefully gathered up and burned. 



For the red scale, July and August are 

 the best months to spray in, as they hatch 

 during May and June. Use thirty-five 

 pounds of soap and three gallons coal oil 

 to every one hundred gallons of water. If 

 sprayed in September or October add five 

 pounds of soap. 



The best months to spray for black 

 scale are September and October. They 

 hatch through July and August. Use 

 ty pounds soap and two and one-half 

 ons coal oil to every one hundred gal- 

 ions water. Thinning out ami cutting 

 away all surplus v od will do inuoli to- 

 wards relieving tl; -ees from black scalu. 

 Care should be t .jn to strain the wash 

 through tine wire cloth, otherwise frequent 

 stops will be necessary to clear the spray 

 nozzle. 



