286 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



nurserymen in New Jersey, there will naturally "be a deep anxiety 

 to learn what has been done in New Jersey toward the prevention 

 of further distribution of the dangerous pest, through purchases that 

 may have been made in 1894 or to be made hereafter. 



From a Bulletin entitled " The San Jose Scale in New Jersey " 

 {Bulletin 106 of the New Jersey Agi'icultural College Experiment 

 Station), prepared by Dr. J. B. Smith, Entomologist of the Station, 

 and issued in January, 1895, we learn that the introduction of the 

 scale in New Jersey occurred either in 1886 or 1887, upon a " Kel- 

 sey " plum ordered by the two nurseries under the representation of 

 its being curculio proof, from the San Jose district, California. It 

 is also known that some Idaho pear stock brought from nurseries on 

 the Pacific Coast were also infested. 



As soon as Dr. Smith became aware (in April 1894) of the exist- 

 ence of the scale in the State, he at once, with his accustomed energy, 

 entered upon the task of finding the nurseries from which the 

 infested stock had been sent, and so far as possible, the other infested 

 localities within the limits of the State. Two large and well-known 

 nurseries, widely separated, were soon located, and these, so far as 

 could be ascertained, were the only distributing centers. The owners, 

 upon being informed of the dangerous character of the pest that 

 they were harboring, and the effect that it might have upon their 

 business in the future, immediately took active steps for stamping 

 out the insect upon their bearing trees, upon which it mainly 

 occurred, and promised to prevent, through fumigation or otherwise, 

 further shipment of infested stock. In one of the nurseries several 

 blocks of young stock were at once torn up and burned. 



The scale had been distributed from these nurseries to a number 

 of orchards throughout the State (nearly one hundred were known 

 to Dr. Smith), but nowhere in sufficient numbers to have spread 

 from the orchard in which it was at first introduced. In all of 

 these, it is believed that measures will be taken by their owners for 

 the prevention of further spread, and toward extermination. 



The work will be carefully watched, and, with our knowledge of 

 the zeal, persistence, and ability shown by Dr. Smith in all of his 

 operations against the noxious insects that are so unfortunate as to 

 intrude within his jurisdiction, we have every assurance that, if 

 extermination is possible, it will be speedily effected. 



