800 



NEW YOUE STATE MUSEUM 



applied : but if entire success is demanded — that is, if all of the 



insects infesting an orchard are to be destroyed, which means exter- 

 mination, — so far as our present knowledge extends, it can only be 

 accomplished in the winter season. During the many years of its 

 existence in California the experiments there conducted, showed 

 that. several of the insecticidal applications tested, were entirely 

 effective — particularly some of the " winter washes " of which the 

 formulas have been frequently published. When it became neces- 

 sary to contend with the insect in its eastern invasion, it was natu- 

 rally supposed that the Calif ornian remedies would be equally effect- 

 ive here, but experiments with them proved that they only sufficed 

 to destroy a certain percentage of the hibernating form ; and even 

 when used in double strength, a large proportion of the scales waa 

 not destroyed. These unexpected results may probably be accounted 

 for by a more perfect dormancy of the insects in the East than in 

 California. 



Winter washes. — The experiments that have been conducted 

 tinder the direction of L. O. Howard, Chief of the Entomological 

 Bureau at Washington, during the past year (1894), have been so 

 varied and apparently so thorough that it would seem that the 

 results attained might be accepted, without further experimentation, 

 for future guidance in our operations against this scale. During 

 the latter part of the year, twenty-nine different washes were tested 

 by experienced entomologists from the Bureau, upon badly infested 

 trees in Charles county, Maryland. In summing up these results, 

 Mr. Howard has stated : " The only perfect results which have been 

 reached have come from the application of two pounds or more of 

 commercial whale-oil soap to a gallon of water, and from the appli- 

 cation of a resin wash of six times the normal summer strength. 

 The effects following the application of these washes leave noth- 

 ing to be desired. In all cases the most careful search over the 

 sprayed trees has failed to show a single living scale." 



Unfortunately, both of the above-named washes are somewhat 

 expensive, as the lowest price at which the whale-oil soap can be 

 purchased is four cents the pound by the barrel, making the wash 

 to cost eight cents per gallon. The resin wash is still more expen- 

 sive. When large orchards are to be treated, the cost is quite an 

 item, but the intelligent fruit-grower will not hesitate when con- 



