ABSTRACTS. 



787 



described, and a list of forty three plants upon which the scale is found, 

 and most of which are commonly grown in this country, is given. The 

 writer points out how the scale is carried from tree to tree by the nursery- 

 man or on the feet of birds or of insects. He recommends the destruc- 

 tion of all badly infested trees. Spraying with crude petroleum or a 

 kerosene-and- water mixture (20 to 25 p.c. kerosene), applied just before 

 leaves are put out, is recommended. The crude oil must have a 

 specific gravity not below 43 degrees (Beaume). Whale-oil soap (2 lbs. 

 soap to 1 gall, of water) is also a useful remedy, but expensive in large 

 orchards. — F. J. C. 



Scale, San Jose, Experiments with Insecticides for the. By 



S. A. Forbes (U.S.A. Exp. Stn. Illinois, Bull No. 71; April 1902).— 

 The " California wash " of lime, sulphur, and salt, and the " Oregon 

 wash " of lime, sulphur, and blue vitriol, are claimed as the best 

 winter washes for this pest in the South Pacific Coast area. The 

 respective washes were prepared as follows : — 



" For the California wash, fifteen pounds of stone-lime were slacked 

 in a little very hot water, fifteen pounds of ground sulphur being slowly 

 poured in during the slacking process, with constant stirring of the 

 mixture. This was then boiled for an hour, after which fifteen pounds 

 of salt were added and the boiling continued for fifteen minutes longer. 

 The whole was then poured into a barrel through a strainer, and enough 

 boiling water was added to make fifty gallons. 



" In the preparation of the Oregon wash, a pound and a quarter of blue 

 vitriol was used instead of the salt, the crystals of the blue vitriol being 

 dissolved in hot water and the solution added slowly to the slacking 

 lime." 



Since the publication of the above a second "Bulletin " (No. 72) has 

 been issued, in which it is claimed that the washes applied in the 

 experiments were extremely efficient. — B. N. 



Scale, the San Jose, in Japan. By L. Beh (Zeit. f. Pflanz. xii. 

 1902, pp. 101-107). — A discussion on the native country of this scale 

 insect. Whether is it Japan, America, or (as the Japanese entomologists 

 say) China? Kuwana's recent paper convinces the author that Japan 

 has the preference (see Abstracts, xxvii. p. 348). — W. G. S. 



Scale, San Jose, How to Control the. By C. L. Marlatt (U.S.A. 

 Dept. Agr. (Dir. Ent.) Circul. No. 42, pp. 1-6 ; May 1902;. One of the 

 main objects of the circular is to emphasise the importance and value of 

 honest efforts to control this insect for the great majority of districts 

 where it has established itself, rather than efforts at extermination, which 

 will prove successful rarely at best, and will always be accompanied with 

 great immediate loss. The other principal object is to designate briefly 

 the means of controlling this scale insect which experience has shown to 

 be of practical value. The " California wash " of lime, salt, and sulphur 

 is given as effective, and its use is possible in all climates similar to 

 those of the Pacific coast. The methods of control in the east of the 

 United States, where the climate is moister and with more frequent rain- 

 falls, are, in order of their importance, as follows : (1) The soap treat- 



