ENEMIES OF PLANTS 



find it in great quantities on Palms, along 

 the lower side of the midrib of the leaves and 

 the leaflet divisions, generally small flat, and 

 white, with a dry look. A scaly look exactly 

 expresses its appearance. On Lemons, and 

 Oleanders, whose leaves are thicker and have 

 more substance than those of the Palm, scale 

 is often as large as a kernel of rice, with a 

 rounded, shining upper surface, gray-green in 

 color, and suggestive of pulpiness inside its 

 shell. On other plants it takes on a dry, dark 

 brown look. All varieties of scale affect plants 

 in the same way — by sucking their juices. 

 They affix themselves to the plant, and 

 remain there indefinitely. It is to be supposed 

 that they move sometime during their lives, 

 but I have never yet seen one in motion. 

 They cannot be removed by brushing, so 

 firmly do they adhere to leaf or stalk. Spray- 

 ing does not afi^ect them. Dusting with 

 powders is of no benefit. I know of but one 

 effective weapon with which to fight this 

 enemy, and that is an emulsion composed of 

 half a pound of laundry soap, one teacupful 

 of kerosene. Cut up the soap and pour over 

 it enough water to cover it. Set it on the 

 stove to become liquid. When dissolved, 



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