REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I906 49 



and vicinity, only a few miles to the north. The scurfy scale, for 

 some reason, has been abnormally abundant in this section, af- 

 fecting mostly young fruit trees. Experience has repeatedly shown 

 the practicability of controlling this pest by timely applications 

 of contact insecticides, either whale oil soap or kerosene emulsion, 

 the latter part of May or early in June at the time the minute, 

 reddish young are crawling in large numbers. 



San Jose scale (Aspidiotus perniciosus Comst.) , This 

 insect is one of prime importance to the small as well as the large 

 fruit grower. The latter, if he is to continue in business and 

 has infested orchards, must find some way of controlling the pest. 

 The small fruit grower will soon find his fruit of very little value 

 if this insect is allowed to breed unrestricted on the trees for a 

 period of several years. The experiments and experience of the 

 past decade have shown beyond all question the practicability of 

 controlling this dangerous scale insect. The weight of evidence is 

 decidedly in favor of employing a lime-sulfur wash which, if prop- 

 erly prepared and thoroughly applied, will give fully as satis- 

 factory results as any other preparation. Recent experience has 

 demonstrated the absolute necessity of great care in the making 

 of this compound and thoroughly emphasized the value of most 

 careful application. 



Several experiments were conducted the past season, largely 

 for the purpose of determining whether the lime-sulfur wash could 

 be further modified to advantage. A lime-sulfur wash was made 

 in the nonnal manner except that the ordinary burnt lime of this 

 vicinity was replaced by a finely prepared hydrated magnesium 

 lime known as limoid. The results were decidedly adverse to the 

 employment of this material despite its improved physical condition. 

 The reaction between the limoid and the sulfur was not nearly so 

 vigorous, even when hot water was employed. 



The following formula was used with very satisfactory results : 

 20 pounds of lime, 15 pounds of sulfur, 12 pounds of sal soda with 

 50 gallons of water. Half amounts were taken, the materials mixed 

 together dry, and then two pails of hot water added. The re- 

 action began in about two minutes and was quite vigorous thoug'h 

 no cold water was necessary to keep the mixture within a half 

 barrel. The compound was very satisfactory and there was very 

 little sediment. This wash was applied April 13 to both moder- 

 ately and very badly infested apple trees. An examination May 

 19 showed that this wash adhered fully as well as the others and 



