INSECTS. 311 



like an oyster shell ; fiat and brown, often crowding upon 

 one another. In the winter and spring, they contain or 

 cover a number of small, i-ound, white eggs, which hatch 

 out in the spring, in May, attach themselves to the bark, 

 and absorb the juices : various remedies have been sug- 

 gested, and more or less thoroughly tested. The restora- 

 tion of the thrifty growth of the tree is considered esseii- 

 • tial to success ; and without this, all remedies are looked 

 upon as unavailing. Some orchardists think that thor- 

 ough drainage and cultivation of the land would alone 

 banish the lice, but this can hardly be hoped. Stiong lye, 

 or solutions of potash, or soda, white-wash, and sulphur, 

 have been used, and tobacco boiled in lye, soft-soap and 

 tar mixed with linseed oil, which makes a kind of varnish. 

 Mr. Walsh tells us that applications, to destroy this insect, 

 are better made in May or June, as the eggs are protected 

 by the scale in winter, and it is impermeable to watery 

 solutions. This pest has been imported from Europe. 

 Walsh recommends the use of Lady-birds to check the 

 Bark-lice.* 



Lecaniam pyri, {Fitch), or the Pear Bark-louse, is a 

 hemispherical brown scale, as large as a split pea. They 

 may be found in summer on the under side of the limbs, 

 and are the remains of dead females, which cover the eggs 

 and young brood. This insect would be very injurious, 

 were it to increase jn numbers considerably. Let young 

 trees be examined in June, when the scales may easily be 

 found, removed, and destroyed. 



Lecaniam pcrsiei, or the Peach Bark-louse, is de- 

 scribed, by Fitch, as similar in size to the above, found on 



• See Practical Entomologist, Vol. n, p. 32. 



