256 PESTS OF ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUITS 
insect in three years. Apple and pear trees, and various ornamental 
shrubs, usually manage to exist for some time longer. 
If a hand lens is used for closer examination, it will be found that 
each scale is circular in shape, rather flat, dark in color, and has in its 
center a small raised spot, like a 
nipple, surrounded by a slight de- 
pression. Smaller, oval scales 
represent the males. 
There are several generations 
each season. The species lives 
through the winter as half-grown 
females. With the coming of 
warm weather these complete 
their growth, the tiny winged 
males appear, and in a few days 
each female begins giving birth 
to exceedingly small, living young. 
The latter crawl about over the 
bark for a few hours, then settle 
Fig. 348. — Work of San José Scale on down, insert their sucking beaks, 
Eee ea and soon are covered with a pro- 
tecting wax scale. They do not move thereafter. The total prog- 
eny of a single female in one season is enormous. 
The insect is especially likely to be introduced on nursery stock, 
and the greatest care should be taken in the purchase of trees for an 
orchard. If stock has been properly fumigated with hydrocyanic 
acid gas, the scales will be killed. 
Treatment of trees or shrubs consists of spraying in the dormant 
season with lime-sulphur solution. The best time of application is in 
the spring, just before the buds swell. Where the infestation is severe, 
it is well to spray in the fall, after the leaves have dropped, and again 
in the spring. 
For small shrubs, and the like, if it is not desired to use the lime- 
sulphur spray, a solution of whale-oil soap, 2 pounds to 1 gallon of 
water, may be applied in winter. The potash soap should be used. 
