15 



in diameter, mostly on the north side of the trees." One specimen of apple wood cut 

 from a branch two inches in diameter and apparently in a living condition, produced, as 

 well as the pear-blight beetle, several specimens of Monarthrum mali, another injurious 

 species somewhat resembling the above, but even smaller. A noticeable feature of 

 every specimen of injured wood submitted to me was that the trees from which 

 they were cut were very badly attacked by the " Oyster-shell bark louse." Opinions 

 seem to differ as to whether these beetles will attack vigorous, healthy trees. Efforts 

 will be made to induce the Nova Scotia fruit growers to treat their trees for the "Oyster- 

 shell bark louse," which alone, without the assistance of these borers, are sufficient to 

 rob the trees of much power for bearing fruit. Last spring I was much pleased-at receiving 

 from Mr. A. J. Hill, of New Westminster, B.C., some twigs of apple covered with this 

 bark louse, which, when enclosed in a breeding jar, produced hundreds of the useful 

 little parasite Aphelinus aspidiotidis. Every scale seemed to be destroyed. After 

 saving a few specimens for the cabinet I turned the others loose in an infested apple 

 tree, and hope next year to find that they are established here. In our own Province 

 by far the worst enemy the orchardist has had to contend with is the codling worm 

 (Carpocapsa pomonella.) There is now no doubt that the use of arsenical poisons is the 

 only practicable remedy for this pest. I refer to it now for a special reason. In the 

 Canadian Horticulturist for August appeared what I cannot but consider a most injurious 

 and ill-advised article. In it the writer, who, by the way, does not give his name, 

 writers of such articles seldom do, makes several bare statements without giving any 

 proof, warning fruit growers against using arsenic in any form, and draws a vivid pic- 

 ture of the ills which may come from neglecting his advice. This article will be 

 answered in full elsewhere; but I wish to draw attention to two of his statements, 

 viz. : 



"That although the mineral arsenic is insoluble in water it is freely soluble in the 

 acids resulting from decomposition of vegetable matter — and is then readily 

 taken up by the roots of plants, especially by those of the coarser vegetables, as the 

 potato, etc." 



" Similarly also, in applying solutions of Paris Green to the apple blossom, it is not 

 only that the petals are destroyed, but the poison may be absorbed by the fruit — ■" 



Now the injury of this article is this : In the first place the statements are inaccurate 

 and secondly being published where it is, it will be read by a large class of people who 

 will not be able to detect the inaccuracy, and who sooner than run any risk will let 

 their crops be destroyed so as to be on the safe side, and besides this there is no doubt 

 that it is less trouble not to make this application, and we all know how easy it is to 

 take a ready-made excuse for not doing a thing which we know ought to be done ; but if 

 there is the slightest doubt about the propriety of an action we seldom even need an 

 excuse to be prepared for us. Now, Entomologists have been for years trying to persuade 

 fruit growers to save their apples and plums by using these arsenical poisons, and Prof. 

 Forbes has shown by most careful experiments, that at least 75% more of a crop can 

 be preserved by their use than by leaving the trees alone. Fruit growers were just 

 beginning to be awakened to the value of these remedies when "0." (of Durham, Ont.) ? 

 comes out with his injurious article. In answer to it I say — if care be taken to apply 

 this remedy as directed by Entomologists no danger can result from its use. As to its 

 b jing absorbed into the potato tubers, " 0," seems to forget that these bodies are not 

 roots, nor are they filled from the roots. They are merely swellings at the ends of under- 

 ground stems, such as are known to botanists as " winter-buds," and are reservoirs for 

 the storing up of reserve material chiefly taken in by the foliage for the use of the 

 next year's growth. Even then were it possible for any appreciable amount of the 

 arsenic to get to the roots and be absorbed by them, which I very much doubt, it would 

 bri impossible for it to get into the tubers. Prof. Cook, of the Michigan Agricultural 

 College, had some very careful analyses made of plants specially treated with arsenic. 

 Paris green was put on the foliage as strong as possible without killing the plants, and 

 it was also put on the ground where it would be worked to the roots. Both vines and 



