558 .JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



has been done, but without any direct suggestion occurring as to the 

 very great and recent increase in the insect. It was, however, noticeable 

 that almost all the roots lay close to the surface, and they would, 

 therefore, more immediately feel the influence of rainfall and drought, 

 especially of the latter. 



The Committee were present at the felling of the "Queen" beech, 

 and some of them were strongly of opinion that its death had been 

 caused by this insect, as the splitting and peeling of the bark is very 

 characteristic of the final stage of the insect's work of destruction. 



Cryptococcus fagi was noticed in Germany about 1849. It is also 

 reported, about the same date, as abundant in Bohemia, and casual 

 notices of it appear from that time onward. In 1862 it is reported at 

 Tyningehame, in Scotland, and Dr. Balfour remarks : " In many cases 

 the trees are so covered as to look as if painted white"; "when once 

 it appears in a wood it spreads rapidly"; and "in every case where 

 seen the tree dies" — a remark which must not be taken too strictly. 

 Dr. Balfour also mentions that it had destroyed trees in Edinburgh 

 Botanic Gardens, and that it appeared to him to attack quite healthy 

 trees. 



Since the above date it has been noticed all over Scotland and all 

 over England ; and in 1867 a discussion took place as to whether the 

 insect attacked healthy trees or only fastened on to those whose bark 

 had been injured by severe frost ; but it has since been clearly seen that 

 the insects are quite independent of the help they may nevertheless 

 occasionally receive from exceptional frosts. Reports from all parts 

 of the country unite in describing its rapid increase, its destructive 

 effects, and the practical inutility of all hitherto suggested remedies 

 except in the case of individual specimen trees. 



In the "Land Agents' Society's Journal," vol. ii. 1908, p. 167, it is 

 said that the insects never make any headway unless the tree is dying 

 from other causes. It seems to be a symptom and not a cause of 

 ill-health ; but this, again, is a statement to be received with much 

 caution. 



Professor Theobald remarks that the insect increases most rapidly 

 in dry weather. 



The insect is now one of the commonest of the group called " scale " 

 insects, although, like the well-known " mealy-bug " (which belongs to 

 the same group) it does not form scales, but protects itself instead by 

 throwing out from its bcdy a multitude of minute threads of a white 

 waxy substance, somewhat like cotton- wool, which gradually forms 

 itself into a sort of white felt which shields it effectually and constitutes 

 the main difficulty in applying any effective remedies. 



The insect is furnished with a sort of proboscis, which it inserts into 

 the bark of the tree and through which it sucks up its juices, the result 

 being that the foliage becomes thin, the smaller branches die back, and 

 eventually the bark splits and flakes off' in sheets, and the tree dies. 

 But this may take many years in process — indeed, individual trees have 

 been known to withstand it altogether, without any assignable reason. 

 Whether the death of the tree is attributable to the Cryptococcus alone, 

 or whether it is brought about by the joint action of the insect and a 



