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the finest possible spray/' and "every part of the plant should be 
thoroughly wet but no more. One application should be sufficient, aud 
it may be delayed, if necessary, until the fruit has been removed." 
This circular was copied in a number of agricultural newspapers. 
In the ineautiine Professor Alwood had experimented (see Bull. 72, 
Va. Agr. Exp. Sta., issued January, 1898) in March, 1897, at Occoquon, 
Va., and we quote the following account from his bulletin: 
Here in an orchard of about six thousand trees, mostly pear, six to eight years 
old, hut including Japanese plums and some old peach trees, I found about three 
hundred pear trees, one hundred plum trees, and a number of old peach trees 
infested. The latter were condemned as worthless, and the other infested trees in 
the midst of such an orchard furnished a grave matter for consideration as to what 
should be done. The owner was willing to use any treatment I might suggest to 
avoid cutting down the trees; consequently it was agreed that pure kerosene should 
be sprayed over these trees at once. The work was begun March 11, after the buds 
were perceptibly swollen. One hundred Abundance plum, sixty Kieffer and two 
hundred and fifty Bartlett pear trees were sprayed. On about twenty-five of the 
plum and pear trees the treatment was repea ted on the 23d of March. None of these 
trees were destroyed, and all the pears and most of the plums made a vigorous 
growth. A few plum trees appeared slightly weak this fall, but I could not deter- 
mine that this was from the effects of the treatment. The trees treated with kero- 
sene appeared to be entirely free from the pest when examined September 11. This 
result is not surprising so far as killing the insects is concerned, because it is well- 
known that kerosene is fatal to such insects, but the generally vigorous appearance 
of the trees was a surprise, as I had feared that many would be killed. 
After examining the above trees I had a number of young pear and apple trees 
treated elsewhere. This was late in September. They were crusted with the scale 
insects, yet all were apparently destroyed in a few hours, and, so far as could be told, 
no serious damage was done to the trees. On pears it caused the shedding of the 
leaves in about three days, but the plants were practically matured and I think will 
not be harmed. I have also had kerosene used on old trees, peach and apple, but it 
is too soon to speak of results. 
Further in the same bulletin, under the head of " Winter treatment 
for young orchards," he says: 
I now believe that pure kerosene can be safel} T used on all the hardy fruit trees, 
but for fear of serious results am not willing to recommend it in the hands of un- 
trained persons when the soap wash promises good results. 
Under the head of "Treatment for old orchards' 1 he recommends 
kerosene, except for peach and cherry, with the proviso that great care 
should be used to only moisten the bark, and not to put on enough oil 
to run down the stem and collect about the base, and to spray only on 
a warm bright day when the plants are perfectly dry. He further says 
that low grades of kerosene are more dangerous to the plants than 
high grades. 
Professor Webster had also been experimenting during 1897, and his 
experiments appear to have been very carefully made. (See Bull. 81, 
Ohio Agr. Exp. Sta., July, 1897.) His conclusions are as follows: 
Judging from all the information we have gained, it seems that kerosene (coal oil) 
can not be safely used on peach trees or on plum trees of tender varieties, but that 
