284 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



probable establishment of the scale on Long Island) should be 

 ascertained, and carefully inspected as soon as possible. Request 

 was accordingly made of the proprietors of these infested nurseries, 

 that they would furnish the State Entomologist with a list of their 

 New York sales from and including the year 1890 to the present. 

 One of the firms promptly complied with the request, so far as it 

 could be done without involving excessive labor, and sent to this 

 office extended lists, at the same time offering to open their books 

 for further examination and transcription by any one who might be 

 commissioned for the purpose. 



It is due to this firm — Keene & Foulk, Bloodgood Nursery, 

 Flushing, L. I., that they be specially mentioned, and commended 

 for the earnest manner in which they are working for the extermi- 

 nation of the scale in their nursery. They have asked for sugges- 

 tions and directions and have promptly and faithfully carried them 

 out — not only in burning and spraying, but also in arranging, 

 under the best approved method, for the fumigation by the hydro- 

 cyanic acid gas treatment of all the stock that they send out this 

 season ; the latter should ensure the destruction of any scattered 

 individual scales that may have been overlooked. They will also, 

 upon request, replace at half-price, all such infested stock that has 

 been received from their nursery in former years before its condi- 

 tion was known. 



In consideration of what they have done and are doing for the 

 protection of their customers (and at the ' same time, of their own 

 interests), it is believed that orders may be more safely sent to them 



prefaced by, " We only knew last fall of the San Jose scale : " " He [Mr. Sirrine] 

 has informed us now of the plants infected, and we shall take them up and burn 

 them as soon as possible. It is our intention to destroy rather than to spray. In 

 the plants now sending out we have not noticed any infected : it would be impos- 

 sible in any event to subject to the gas treatment while in the rush of sending 

 off trees." 



Is it possible — as may be inferred from the above, that up to the middle of 

 April, absolutely nothing has been done by this company toward freeing their 

 nurseries from this dangerous insect ? 



In the absence of present legislation authorizing entrance upon private grounds 

 for the destruction of the San Jose scale, it only remains for purchasers of trees, 

 shrubs, etc., subject to its attack, to protect themselves so far as they may, by 

 withholding orders from localities known to be infested and where no efficient 

 measures have been and are being taken for its extermination. 



