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The following gentlemen visited Ellwood during September and col- 

 lected the new Rhizobii ladybirds and sent them to their respective 

 sections: Prof. A. J. Cook, Claremont; Messrs. Loney, Messenger, 

 Howland, and Packard, of Pomona; Messrs. Pease and Gray, for San 

 Bernardino County; Dr. Woodbridge, for Los Angeles; Messrs. H. K. 

 Snow and Thomas, for Orange; and Messrs. Mclntyre and Rice, for 

 Ventura County. Other parties visited Mr. Cooper's orchards and col- 

 lected for a few days. Prof. T. N. Snow, of Santa Barbara, collected 

 great numbers for Los Angeles and Riverside Counties as well as for 

 his own. Besides the 825 colonies sent by mail, I forwarded very large 

 colonies to Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, and San 

 Diego Counties by express. In all, I estimate that there has been over 

 1,000,000 beetles collected and distributed from the Ellwood orchards. 

 With each colony sent, the following circular letter was mailed: 



Ellwood, Santa Baebara Co., Cal., , 189-. 



Mr. . 



I send you by this mail a package containing a colony of ladybirds (Rhizobius ventralis). 

 A few of these beetles, probably not more than ten perfect pairs, were placed in olive 

 orchards badly infected with black scale (Lecanium olex) on May 15, 1892. In September, 

 1893, they had increased to many millions. The orchards at this writing are entirely 

 free from scale insects. Over 500 colonies were sent out last fall. Reports from some 

 who received them are very encouraging and satisfactory, while from others no apparent 

 benefit has been derived— statements are made that no ladybirds or their larvae can be 

 found. 



I have visited a number of orchards where colonies were placed and have made this 

 observation : that in every case where there were good-sized trees, very bushy, offering 

 protection to the beetles, and where there were plenty of scales, good work had been 

 accomplished. The beetles and larvae in all stages were plentiful on the surrounding 

 trees, so that this summer the parasites will surely complete the destruction of the 

 pests. 



In orchards where the trees were small and very open, it had not been so successful — 

 but few beetles or larvae could be found, and there was not much hope of success. There- 

 fore, you will place this colony on a tree very dense in foliage, where there are plenty of 

 scales, and no spraying or fumigating must be done in the orchard. 



You will report to the Secretary of the State Board of Horticulture, 220 Sutter Street, 

 San Francisco, not later than July 1, 1895, stating the progress and increase of these 

 beetles. 



Please acknowledge receipt to Ellwood Cooper, Santa Barbara. 

 I am, very truly, 



ELLWOOD COOPER. 



During October I visited Yolo County and inspected a number of 

 pear orchards in the vicinity of Yolo that are infested with a new aphis 

 attacking the roots. It appears to be a species of Schizoneura. This 

 insect was found upon French pear seedlings imported for grafting pur- 

 poses in 1892, and all the Horticultural Commissioners in the State 

 were notified at that time to have all such stock dipped in a solution of 

 whale-oil soap, one pound to three gallons of water. 



With Mr. Zane I visited a fourteen-acre Bartlett pear orchard eight 

 years old. In the spring the trees in this orchard set a good crop, but 

 when the fruit was half size it stopped growing and had to be fed to 

 hogs. Upon examination the roots were found to be infested with this 

 aphis. The pest was undoubtedly upon the roots when the trees were 

 planted, as there are no pear trees in the immediate vicinity. Experi- 

 ments conducted by Mr. Zane* in another orchard upon three-year-old 

 trees would lead me to believe that this is a difficult pest to combat. 

 The gas-lime treatment recommended for woolly aphis appeared to have 

 no effect. Where several trees had been taken up the soil was removed 

 and fresh material, mixed with gas-lime, substituted. Healthy trees 

 were planted the following spring, and these were dug up during my 



