168 
The Apple Mussel Scale. 
exhibit a large falling-off in calf-rearing, and that the markets will be 
glutted with half -fed veal. The Returns collected last June exhibit 
a decrease of rearing, for there were sixty-four thousand fewer cattle 
under two years of age than there were in June 1891, although the 
total number of cattle of all ages shows an increase of more than 
ninety thousand : this increase arose from the exceptionally large 
number of cattle which passed out of the under -two into the over- 
two years’ class in the interval. This, however, must be borne in 
mind by those who are in the habit of rearing calves : the season 
of 1892 was one of the worst in memory for grazing, and it is toler- 
ably certain that a vast number of half-fattened cattle were slaugh- 
tered after the last Returns were collected. The exceptionally low 
price of store stock in the period referred to has also caused the 
slaughtering of many thousands of young cattle — such as were at all 
fit for the butcher — that would otherwise have been wintered as 
store stock ; and hence it is, indeed, that the price of beef has been 
exceptionally low throughout the winter. 
We have much reason to fear that the Returns to be collected 
next June will exhibit a considerable decrease in cattle over two 
years oj age, and indeed of those under two years as well ; and 
therefore we may venture to come to the conclusion that. we have 
not now, and in three months’ time shall not have, a larger stock of 
cattle than, under average conditions as to crops and pasture, the 
land of the country is calculated to maintain. It may be hoped, 
and indeed expected, that the approaching summer will be a more 
fruitful one than that of last year, so far as yield of crops is con- 
cerned, and that the coming winter will find the country better 
prepared with food for live-stock than was the case six months ago. 
The probability is, however, that the wholesome dread engendered 
by the recent winter will cause an extra area of land to be mown 
for hay, and that this in its turn will help on the expected massacre 
of the innocents. 
J. P. Sheldon. 
THE APPLE MUSSEL SCALE. 
The scale insect which is the subject of this note 1 is recognised as 
belonging to the tribe of the Diaspides, which includes all species 
covered with a shield, the latter being independent of the body of 
the animal, and formed by a waxy secretion glueing together the 
skins cast off by the insects in their successive moults. 
The investigators have found Mylilaspis pomorum chiefly upon 
the stems of young apple trees, not exceeding four or five inches in 
diameter, and upon young branches. In the case of aged trees it 
appears to be generally absent. Its presence is indicated by 
1 Note sur le Mytilaspis pomorum (parasite du pommier), par MM. L. 
Huet et E. Louise. Ministere de F Agriculture. Bulletin. Onzteme annee. 
No. 7. Paris : Imprimerie Nationale. Decembre, 1892. lsl 
