134 
merely of cutting off the top at a point 
where it is desired to form the head. 
With most varieties the head should be 
started not more than two feet above the 
graft union, but in some naturally spread- 
ing varieties, like Rhode Island Greening, 
for example, the head would be much bet- 
ter started at a point three feet from the 
ground. With trees two or more years 
old the heads, which have been formed in 
the nursery row, are often too high.* In 
such cases the entire head should be re- 
moved and the trees induced to form new 
heads. If the heads are in the proper 
position, the necessary pruning consists 
simply in cutting out unnecessary 
branches and in cutting back the remain- 
ing three or four branches to within about 
six or eight inches from the stem. 
See article by A. B. Capps, “Heading Trees in 
Nursery.”?’ If Mr. Capps’ methods were used 
it would be unnecessary to prune the top at 
all.—-Ed 
Treatment of Nursery Stock for San 
Jose Scale 
The San Jose Scale. The reputable 
nurserymen are very careful to keep their 
stock free from scale, and most of them 
are provided with a fumigating house for 
the purpose and fumigate all their trees 
before they send them to their customers. 
Notwithstanding these precautions, the 
introduction of the scale into wninfested 
sections may usually be attributed to the 
planting of infested nursery trees. The 
most careful examination is not sufficient 
to detect the presence of scale, for the in- 
sects often hibernate in small crevices in 
the bark and under bud scales. Before 
planting the trees in uninfested sections 
it is therefore important that they should 
be either refumigated or dipped. The 
expense in connection with the fumigation 
or dipping is very insignificant compared 
with the cost of spraying the trees a few 
years later. 
Fumigating 
Fumigating nursery stock consists in 
subjecting the trees to the fumes of hydro- 
cyanic acid gas for a period of 30 to 45 
Minutes. The gas is made by using the 
following chemicals: 
*The terms “high” or “low” heading are 
relative and of course vary with the cireum- 
stances and the nature of the tree.—Hd. 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
Water nn. cccee ee ceteeecteesceeeces 4 fluid ounces 
Sulphuric acid (high grade, 
66° Baume)... 2 fluid ounces 
Potassium Cyanide (98-100 
PUTICY )  neceeeeeeeeeeneeeeennennees 1 ounce (av,) 
This quantity is required for every 100 
cubic feet of space. A tight box about 
six feet long by four feet wide and four 
feet deep, will answer the purpose. [It 
should be supplied with a tight fitting 
cover the full size of the top, and ag- 
justed so that it can be opened from a 
distance. (See Fig. 1.) The box shoul 
Fig. 1. A Home-made Fumigating Bor for 
the Treatment of Nursery Stock. 
also have a small slide door located at the 
bottom near the center. It is through 
this door that the chemicals are intro- 
duced. The acid and water are mixed to- 
gether and placed in position, and when 
everything is in readiness the cyanide is 
dropped into the liquid and the small door 
quickly closed. When the time is up the 
top should be removed by means of a rope 
through a pulley-block suspended above 
The fumes are extremely poisonous and 
should not be inhaled. 
The process of dipping fruit trees is 
probably more satisfactory for general use 
among fruit growers than fumigation. 
Nurserymen, and others who are familiar 
with the use of potassium cyanide for 
this purpose, will probably find fumiga- 
tion more convenient. While injury may 
follow either method, if the necessary pre- 
cautions are not observed, there is less 
risk with the dipping process. Hither the 
lime-sulphur wash or miscible oil may be 
used for dipping. The former is some- 
what troublesome to prepare, and in view 
of the small quantity required for this 
purpose the trouble would be unwarranted. 
Some of the prepared lime-sulphur solu- 
tions on the market have given good re- 
