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Resin Wash against Mealy Bug and Woolly Aphis. 



My reason for not answering sooner your letter of January 2 (which was accom- 

 panied by report, and duly received) was occasioned through a desire on my part to 

 thoroughly test and report correctly to you the results and effects of my experiments 

 with resin wash upon the foliage of greenhouse plants. I have sprayed several del- 

 icate greenhouse plants with it, some of which had a considerable share of the mealy 

 bug on. I have sprayed with from 1 to 12 and 10 per cent, and have seen no bad ef- 

 fects or any injury done to the foliage or plants from its use, while all the mealy bugs 

 were entirely killed. 



As to last year's experiments with it on Woolly Aphis and Plum Aphis, I can only 

 say that it killed both, and I consider it a success when properly made and mixed and 

 thoroughly applied with a fine spray. 



There is one point to be observed : It should be applied early in the season, that 

 is, as soon as the Woolly Aphis makes its appearance and before the leaves begin to 

 turn yellow, which is caused by the Aphis destroying or checking the vital power 

 that goes to nourish and sustain the leaves and causes them to drop, and which many 

 people believe to be the cause of the wash. — [E. K. McLennan, Berkeley, Cal., Feb- 

 ruary 13, 1888, to Mr. Koebele. 



Dryocampa rubicunda. 



I send with this some " worms" that are like the locusts of Egypt and "fill the 

 houses." There were a good many last year, but this year they are innumerable. 

 This is the second crop this season, and there was a white miller this spring in great 

 numbers which I suspect to be the " mother of them all." The worms seem to eat 

 nothing but the maples. I have hunted through such reports as I have but can not 

 find out about it. I would like to know what it is and what we can do about 

 it. — [Mrs. Mary T. McCluney, 214 East Sixth street, Sedalia, Mo., September 10, 

 1888. 



Reply. — The worms belong to the species Dryocampa (Anisota) rubicunda, which is 

 popularly known as the Green-striped Maple-worm. These worms at times are very 

 destructive to the Soft and Silvery Maples. The perfect insect varies somewhat in 

 coloration according to locality. In the west it is nearly all a pale yellow color, 

 with a very faint tinge of rose. The eastern individuals have the rose color quite 

 intense on the front wings and generally a rosy band across the hind wings. In Mis- 

 souri there are two broods of the insect in a year. In regard to remedies, there is no 

 practical way of destroying them. The worms hold to the tree tenaciously and are 

 not easily jarred down ; and before entering the ground they scatter to great distances, 

 so that they could not be found and destroyed while in the chrysalis state. How- 

 ever, this insect is seldom so exceedingly abundant two years in succession. The only 

 directions that can be given to counteract its injuries are to keep close watch for the 

 moths and eggs during the latter part of May, when large numbers of these may be 

 destroyed, and to entrap the worms when they are about to leave the trees by dig- 

 ging a trench around the individual tree or around a grove of trees so affected. 

 This trench should be at least a foot deep, with the outer walls slanting under, in 

 which great numbers of the worms will collect and may easily be killed. — [Septem- 

 ber 19, 1888.] 



Combined Spraying for Bark-lice and Codling Moth. 



Having this day sprayed the apple-orchard of Rev. J. S. Fisher, of this place, with 

 an emulsion according to your formula in letter to him of April 16th, I write you 

 to report. 



I would say that using one-half common soap, 2 gallons kerosene, and 28 gallons 

 water, I sprayed about 60 trees, and 30 more were sprayed with the same proportion, 



