2 22 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [November, 



years. Allow the cut-worms free range in any planted crop and see how 

 much is left for the farmer ? Permit the canker worms to range as they 

 will in an apple orchard and how much fruit will be gathered ? These 

 are cases imperiling either fruit only or an annual crop ; but how about 

 peach borers or round headed apple or quince borers ? Let them go un- 

 checked and how long a lease of life has a tree ? No, the San Jos^ scale 

 is not a particle more destructive than many of our native species or those 

 to which we have become used. 



It is no more of a menace to fruit culture than the codling moth or plum 

 curcuHo, which must be annually and persistently fought to secure a crop 

 that will pass muster and bring remunerative prices. 



It does not compare with fungus troubles in rapidity of effect. Note 

 the fire-blight and other blights in apple and pear orchards. Almost 

 overnight a thrifty orchard may be practically ruined, and the various 

 forms of rots, molds and smuts are infinitely worse than San Jos^ or any 

 other scale insect. Its coming does add a new pest to be dealt with. It 

 is a new factor in fruit-growing that makes it increasingly difficult and 

 more expensive and adds to the demand for intelligence and ability on 

 the part of the grower. 



Other insects have offered problems apparently as difficult, e.g. the 

 "pear midge," which oviposits in the blossom, whose larva feeds in the 

 pear fruit beyond reach of insecticides and who emerges from its shelter 

 only to drop to the ground and go beneath the surface. Yet we have 

 mastered this species and control it easily; so easily, indeed, and withal 

 so completely that in some places it has been apparently — note the word 

 — exterminated. 



The San Jos^ scale multiplies with enormous rapidity, but so do plant 

 lice, and some other insects as melon growers know to their cost, acres 

 of vines becoming covered with plant lice in a few weeks from a few 

 scattering individuals noticed in early Summer. 



Is the scale so hard to kill ? Yes and no ! It is no worse in this respect 

 than some of our native scales, because on some trees infested by both 

 San Jose and " scurfy" scales Winter treatment killed nearly all the per- 

 nicious form while the tree is now coated with the common species which 

 the application left unharmed. It was simply a matter of the time of 

 treatment. The unprotected larva of the San Jos6 scale is just as easy 

 to kill as that of any other armored scale— only, and the difference is 

 important, in scales with one annual brood one or two sprayings will reach 

 the entire crop of larvae; in the San Jos^ scale, which breeds continu- 

 ously for several weeks' treatment against the larvae, must be made at 

 frequent intervals during the life of the breeding scales. Another very 

 important matter is, that if a single brooded scale is reduced by proper 

 treatment to insignificant numbers it takes it several years to recover. 

 The San Jos^ scale on the contrary from the same nucleus becomes as 

 bad as ever by the end of Summer. But do we not get the same thing 

 •with the potato beetle? Kill them off in Spring and then let them alone, 



