62 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



was but little trouble with the insects later in the season. This 

 relative immunity early in the season was also favored doubtless 

 by the rather low prevailing temperatures and unusual amount of 

 rain. 



Generally speaking, the delayed dormant spray of lime-sulphur 

 wash at winter strength is one of the most effective checks the pear 

 grower can use against this insect. This treatment should be sup- 

 plemented where necessary, by a later spraying whenever the pest 

 becomes sufficiently numerous, with a tobacco-soap preparation. 



San Jose scale (Aspidiotus perniciosus Comst.) . The 

 relative scarcity of San Jose scale continued in the Hudson valley. 

 The conditions are fairly represented by the statement of Mr F. H. 

 Lacy -of the Dutchess county farm bureau to the effect that he had 

 not observed or heard of any scale injury at all, though the insect 

 was doubtless present in small numbers here and there in the county. 

 Supplementing this, Mr W. H. Hart informs us that there was very 

 little scale in a neglected, unsprayed portion of a Ben Davis orchard 

 marked for cutting down the coming winter, and he adds that in 

 handling apples, especially greenings from twenty-five or more 

 orchards beside his own, he rarely saw a San Jose scale mark. Mr 

 P. L. Huested, formerly horticultural inspector of the State Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, considers that parasites have been nearly 

 plentiful enough to eliminate San Jose scale. He cites one peach 

 orchard consisting of 2500 trees, planted in 191 2 and among which 

 stood a few old apple trees infested at that time. This orchard 

 has never been sprayed and yet there has been nothing more than 

 an occasional scale spot here and there, not a limb being crusted as 

 was commonly the case in earlier years. 



Mr A. E. Jansen of New Paltz states that a small amount of scale 

 occurs in that section, though owing to the general spraying it is 

 difficult to give any definite statements as to what might have 

 occurred on unsprayed trees. Mr J. A. Hep worth of Milton is of 

 the opinion that the scale is less abundant than in earlier years. 



Observations in southern Rensselaer and northern Columbia 

 counties show a comparative scarcity of San Jose scale, a portion 

 of this undoubtedly being due to the activity of natural enemies, 

 though unfavorable climatic conditions may have had an influence. 

 Several growers have omitted the usual spraying for San Jose scale 

 without untoward results, though this is a practice attendant with 

 some risk and one which can not be unqualifiedly recommended at the 

 present time. J 



