THE APPLE SCALE.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7469, 7 February 1890, Page 2

THE APPLE SCALE.

By M. Metrphy, F.L.S.

This pest of the orchard is without doubt the mo3t troublesome and at the same time the most injurious of all the insect tribe with which the orchardist has to contend. So prevalent has it become in many parts of New Zealand that if left to itself it will ultimately render fruitgrowing for profit an impossibility. Many are the nostrums for its extermination which have from time to time been placed before the fruit-growers of the colony, with the assurance that each and every one of them, if used according to instructions, will effectually eradicate the pest. And still the pest continues to increase in. spite of these numerous patented specifics. Carefully conducted experiments with several blight specifics were carried out ad the Styx Apple Company's orchard during the early spring months, with varying success; branches of the trees dreseWi were secured a month or so afterwards and kept under observation till the end of October, when a numerous army of young hatched out lice presented themselves in full vigour, proving conclusively that at least the dressings used were not entirely successful—particulars of these trials have already appeared in the public prints and need not therefore be referred to n/aw. Where there are only a few small trees to be dealt with, effectual measures may be adopted,' such as scrubbing with soap, kerosine and water, oil, and any other specific ; this is at once admitted, but where orchards containing hundreds of trees have to be dealt with, the case is very different. The dressing which is to be of any use must be easy of application, effective, and cheap. These conditions, I contend, have not hitherto been attained, nor are they likely to be so, as long as the nature and the habits of the pest to be dealt with aro not made the first consideration.

, Mr E. G. Mygatt, of Richmond, Mc Henry County, Illinois, has, according to an American author before mc, been experimenting with this insect for over, twenty years, with fche final result that winter dressings were unavailing (except; in the case of small lots) where toe brush could be used — that in fact, Baik-lice can only be successfully fought during three or four days of the year, and he goes on to say " how absurd and ridiculous, tihen, are all the patent nostrums and compounds which are continuously offered to the public as 'perfect Bark-lice extinguishers.'*' I can' bear amply testimony to the above statement, viz., "that bark-lice can only be successfully fought for a few days in the year: " I commenced experimenting upon a tyee (Stunner Pippin) in August, syringlngit thoroughly with one in twenty of Xlttle's sheep dip, watching the result very closely tiu the 20th October, when the scale was observed assuming a somewhat different appearance Chan usual, The cases became detached from the bark of the tree along pne side, the white eggs began to protrude and on the 22nd the eggs developed into myriads of lice—white moving specks, A wash was then made of 1 in 50 of dip and water, and appied with a syringe to a portion of the tree. Another portion of the tree was dressed with 1 in 65, and another with 1 in 100. The first dressing proved too.strong for the young foliage; the second discoloured the leaves a little, but did no ultimate harm; and the third was quite harmless so far as the leaves were concerned. That portion of the tree dressed first and second may be said to be almost entirely free from young ecale, the third part is not quite so free. The dressings were applied in the full blaze of the morning sun, in order that it migfit be seen whether the dressing might be applied with impunity at any time of the day, for jthis is an important point. I consider the result of this simple experiment as of, considerable importance, proving that to deal successfully with one of our most troublesome pesta (the apple scale), we have only to attack it as described, at the proper time. The expense is infinitesimal, resolving itself into little more than the time 'required for its application. Where the orchard is large I would suggest that all other work be suspended, and a vigorous attack be made as soon as the enemy comes to life. I may add that I have found that pure water applied with force also cleaned the branches. I experimented with Little's dip simply because I had. it at hand, and because it is so immediately soluble in cold water, and can be 1 ; applied with the finest nozzle. A dressing might now be applied, 1 in 70, where red spider abounds, a pest whicTt fcids/fair to rival the scale in destruction. I had a very noticeable instance of the efficiency of this a day or two agq,- whea^tlie.rpost wad completely cleared out; applied from " Uftder the trees. By dressing now much mischief may be averted noxfc year. As regards scale, they are now fixed, and will be difficult to deal with till October or November- ■p&gfcsJffim- - Zealand Cvnnbry Journal.