50 



(10 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively) and about 1,500 trees one 

 application before the general treatment of the orchard commenced. 



It was intended that the entire orchard should be treated with crude^ 

 petroleum, but delay in obtaining this substance necessitated the con- 

 tinuation of the use of kerosene. Taking the trees in regular order, 

 regardless of previous treatment, 17,000 were sprayed with a 20 per 

 cent strength of kerosene between January 3 and 23. The crude oil 

 had then arrived, and from January 25 to February 7 28,000 peach 

 and 1,000 plum trees were sprayed with a 20 per cent strength of this 

 substance, which registered 43^° gravity on the Beaume oil scale. The 

 remaining 10,000 trees being detached from the main orchard and 

 containing only a slight infestation of scale, were not taken into 

 account in making notes. However, they were sprayed with a 20 

 per cent strength of kerosene, beginning February 11. The effect of 

 the treatment was carefully watched, and at the end of three weeks 

 after 20 per cent kerosene had been applied to the block of 1,700 trees 

 in the general treatment, a small percentage of live scale insects could 

 here be found. It was then too early to make a definite determination 

 of the results, but the owner was not satisfied with the indications and 

 the writer consented to another application to this block, advising 15 

 per cent keroseiie, which was applied late in February. 



Reviewing the treatment, a portion of the 1,000 badlj^ infested trees 

 was sprayed four times at diflEerent periods with kerosene at 10, 15, 20, 

 and 15 per cent strengths, respectively, and the remainder three times 

 with 10 and 15 per cent strengths of kerosene, respectively, followed 

 by a 20 per cent strength of crude oil. A portion of the 15,000 trees 

 that received 15 per cent kerosene before the general treatment com- 

 menced was sprayed with 20 per cent kerosene in January, followed 

 by an application of 15 per cent kerosene late in February, while the 

 other portion received a 20 per cent strength of crude oU. Then a 

 portion of the trees that remained unsprayed when the general treat- 

 ment commenced received a 20 per cent strength of kerosene, followed 

 by a 15 per cent strength, while the other portion received a 20 per 

 cent strength of crude oil only. 



The entire work throughout the season was done in the most care- 

 ful manner possible on a large scale. Six Gould barrel " kero-water " 

 pumps were used, and these were supplied with oil by extra teams 

 while the water was piped into the orchard. The work was done with 

 negro labor, superintended by the owner of the orchard and two intel- 

 ligent white men, who at short intervals tested the percentage of oil 

 discharged and saw that everj^ portion of the tree was moistened with 

 the spray. When any part of the tree was found dry it was resprayed, 

 even at the cost of turning the team. By the employment of a mechanic 

 the pumps were kept so adjusted as to do satisfactory work. 



The results were beyond expectation. When the winter work was 



