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California Remedies for the Woolly Aphis.— Mr. W. G. Klee 

 writes in Bulletin No. 55 of the Agricultural Experiment Station of the 

 University of California about the widespread disease of the apple tree 

 produced by the Woolly Aphis (Schizoneura lanigera) and its repression. 

 He describes the insect and the astonishing rapidity of its increase in 

 the dry climate of California. After trying the various remedies sug- 

 gested for its extermination upon the twigs, such as rubbing kerosene 

 on the infested spots, or washing them with lye (three-quarter pounds 

 to the gallon), or with a solution of whale-oil soap, or sulpho-carbonate 

 of potassium, he found them only of use in arresting the disease. If, 

 however, the roots are once thoroughly infested, all the remedies usu- 

 ally recommended proved insufficient or impracticable. Gas lime was 

 found very efficacious, as well as inexpensive. It has to be used with 

 care, and the dose must be regulated according to the character of the 

 soil and subsoil and the age of the trees. In a porous and deep soil there 

 is less danger than in a clayey one, where the water charged with the 

 antidote permeates the soil very slowly, and has time to corrode the 

 bark. It is always safe to use only a small dose first — from one shovel- 

 ful on a small tree to four on a very large one, spread over the surface, 

 according to the spread of the roots ; the rain will wash it into the soil. 

 Fresh ashes should be piled close about the trunk to prevent the aphis 

 from descending to the roots. He found that lady-bugs would consume 

 most of the Aphids adhering to the twigs, and to protect these benefi- 

 cial insects it is wise to have conifers growing in the vicinity of the or- 

 chards to provide hibernating quarters for them. Two to three spray- 

 ings of the trees are also recommended ; the first application with hot 

 water of 140° F., the second with tobacco water and whale-oil soap in 

 the following proportions: In a decoction of tobacco (1 gallon water to 

 one-half pound tobacco) put half a pound of whale-oil soap. This mix- 

 ture ought to be applied at about 130° F., and should be followed in 

 about a week by another application. 



Seedlings of the Golden Russet and Rawle's Janet are exempt, pos- 

 sessing tough and wiry roots. 



The Hessian Fly in California. — A number of notices have oc- 

 curred in the California newspapers during the season, relative to the 

 appearance of the Hessian Fly on the Pacific Coast. Anxious to learn 

 the truth of these reports, we wrote for confirmation to Mr. Matthew 

 Cooke, of Sacramento, who answered under date of May 29 that he had 

 traveled extensively through the infested section of the State and had 

 seen unmistakable proofs of the presence of the fly. He defines the 

 region as follows : 



" Take a map of California; find Vallejo, in Solano County (opposite 

 Mare Island Navy-yard), and draw a line to Benicia (S miles). From 

 Benicia continue the line to Suisun, and then in a north or northwest 

 direction draw a line that will fall north of Napa City, in Napa County ; 

 thence back to Vallejo. This will be a line of nearly 60 miles, and the 



