322 =Reporr or THE DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY OF THE 
in the buds, nearly all of which were tenanted. In 1904 the 
behavior of the cichard was quite similar to that of the previous 
year, except that injuries by spraying were not so marked. As 
there was no apparent decline in the numbers of the mite, and as 
it seemed to be an apple pest of increasing importance in this and 
other orchards, plans were made by which a number of the worst 
affected trees were secured for experimental purposes to determine 
satisfactory methods for treatment. 
EXPERIMENTS IN I905. 
Conditions— On May 2, treatment with whale-oil soap, one 
pound to five gallons of water, and kerosene emulsion, one part to 
eight parts of water, was commenced. The buds at this time were 
opening, and the mites were beginning to migrate from the bud 
scales to the unfolding leaves. One hundred and seventy trees, 
divided evenly between the two mixtures, were sprayed. Thirty- 
seven trees fully representative of the treated lot were reserved as 
checks. It was intended to apply the sprays much earlier than the 
date given, but successive rains and the condition of the orchard 
made this impossible. All the trees were given the three customary 
sprayings with the bordeaux-arsenical mixtures. 
Results — The trees were examined a number of times during the 
summer to ascertain the effects of the treatment on the mite. The 
conditions of the trees with respect to treatment by contact sprays 
are well shown by the following notes of July’21, which have been 
condensed: Checks are much infested with the mite. There is 
much yellowing and dropping of the leaves, and the trees are at 
least one-half defoliated. Apparently spray injuries from bordeaux 
treatment or some unfavorable soil conditions are responsible for 
this denudation. Trees sprayed with whale-oil soap show the work 
of the mite but the infestation is not quite as bad as with checks. 
Defoliation is severe. Trees sprayed with kerosene emulsion were 
slightly more exempt from mite injuries than those treated with the 
soap mixtures. Nearly one-half of the leaves had fallen to the 
ground and much of the foliage still adhering was turning yellow. 
Summary.— The treatment for the blister-mite was not success- 
ful. The results may have been due partly or wholly to the pubes- 
cence of the buds which may have repelled the sprays or to the 
