89 



we do know that so far the oils seem to be effective. I was in an or- 

 chard about the loth of December, where the oils had been applied 

 a week previous, and quite a number of the scale had been killed. 



Member. Do they infest the apple? 



Prof. Symons. They do not infest the apple. 



Prof. Symons. You had better look over your orchards and 

 see if you can find the Lecanium ; and if you find it, you had better 

 spray with oil now, because the fact of losing a crop of fruit would 

 be nothing in comparison with having that scale spread in your or- 

 chard. I would suggest now, the use of the oils i to 15 for this 

 scale ; and if you find this Lecanium, I would use the oil right now, 

 — the sooner, the better. 



Mr. Nevi^comer. What color is the fruit of an infested tree ? 



Prof. Symons. The fruit looks just as if you had taken soot 

 out of the chimney and thrown on them. 



Mr. Newcomer. Some of the leaves, also? 



Prof. Symons. Yes. And the fruit has this fungus all over it. 



Member. What would be the effect of self-boiled Lime and 

 Sulphur as a fungicide for that condition? 



Prof. Symons. We have not had the experience. It would 

 probably help it. 



Member. Have you any points on it ? 



Prof. Symons. Well, no sir ; I would not express an opinion ; 

 but my advice would be to consult the pathologists and Mr. Fulton, 

 of Sleepy Creek, as I understand he had fine results the past season. 



Prof. Whetzel. Did you say you used the Niagara Brand in 

 some of your experiments? 



Prof. Symons. Yes. 



Prof. Whetzel. Did you use it with sediment in it, or clear? 



Prof. Symons. I think it was the clear grade. 



Prof. Whetzel. In your opinion, what substance in the Lime 

 Sulphur is effective in killing the scale ? 



Prof. Symons. I would appreciate it if you would ask me 

 something easier. I do not believe anybody in the world knows. 

 The real chemical action that take splace on a tree after poly-sul- 

 phides are applied, is a mystery. So far as I know, the scale is killed 

 by the caustic effect of the solution. Oxydizing takes place, giving 

 forth free sulphur and several other combinations ; but as I say, I 

 do not know. It is a very nice problem to work out. 



Mr. Baugher. Would there be any advantage in using the pre- 

 pared Lime Sulphur one to five? 



Prof. Symons. I would consider that a little too strong. It 

 would not hurt the apples ; but it is going to the extreme ; one to 

 seven or eight would be the strongest I would care to use. 



Finally, as to the Peach Lecanium, I simply offer this to the 

 growers. I urge them to look into their orchards for the pest, and 

 suggest that oil is the possible remedy. If we cannot control scale 

 by Lime Sulphur, we must conduct some experiments with oils. A\'e 

 shall have to try them in the fall; if they do not have the desired 

 effect then, we shall have to try them in the spring. We may have to 

 use whale oil soap, which cannot be applied in the fall, while in the 

 spring, just about the time the bud comes into leaf, it can be used 

 with satisfaction. 



