Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-06-18

very respectfully, your most obedient
servant, JAMES LoNGsTREET.
The Bark Louise Again.
EDITOR WISCONSIN FARMER Mo-
ticing in the Farmer of May Slth, an
article on the Bark Louise, and the
stuped point about little black insects
running about on the bark of trees,
being the same as the scale or Bark
Louise, and as the answer of Mr..
Walsh to Mr. Willey's inquiry does
not show clearly whether it is the
same OF not, and as you are waiting
for further light respecting the hv1
ing insect, | will give a little of my
experience for the consideration of
those who are in doubt.
lst. The Bark Louise, or scale is
yet Theoretically sealed up, just as
she was last fall, as any one can see
by examining them With magnify>
ing glass, and no insect can get in or
out at present, on account of the
hard coating Of the scale, and moth
ing but heat will soften it, and that
we have not had this spring.
I'd. Opening one of the shells or
scales you will find from 10 to so or
more, perfect, sound, white shining
eggs which roll out like marbles
(only not so big) that are not yet
Matched.
3D.. These eggs will not hatch un-
til we have warm weather enough to
raise the mercury to 20 or so degrees,
for at least eight or ten days, and
then they are not at liberty, as the
scale still covers them, and they can
not until very warm weather contin-
ues so as to soften the scale and en-
able them to burst through, general
ly at the largest end as that is the
thinnest. If cold, rainy weather.
they have to stay patil they grow
large and. burst the scale, but those
that cannot stay inside until the
weather is favorable, will perish
Only those W no have the largest num-
Der Of eggs ate liable to perish from
premature exposure. Those who
have Is to % eggs viii not burst the
shell at all, and if cold, wet June,
they will all perish for want Of sus-
tenance.
If the weather is favorable they
will work their way through in two
or three days and spread over the
tree by the million. They have only
q short time, from three or four days,
| al fA nhnCn n hnIn
before they commence to incase
themselves again.
4th. The bark or scale louise is
white, with yellow head and snout
like mullet sucker; has six legs and
is very active and spry, but SO small
that you must observe very closely
to see them and distinguish them
from the white blotches or specks
on the new growth of the trees,
where you will find them after we
have had s to II warm days, averag-
ing say 20 degrees, or after the trees
blossomed, no matter if the spring IS
early or late.
9Th. These black insects are about
ten times larger than the bark louise
when they are Matched, and appear
when the first buds break no matter
how cold the weather is, as soon as
the buds start by a little warmth
they are on hand. Their eggs are
glued on the base of the leaf buds anC
new wood, each one separately
They look like fine powder sprinkleC
on the shoots and joints. We saw
these here about four weeks ago and
they are now quite large. They are
the Aphis proper, and now produce
their young alive until fall, wher
they lay eggs on the youngest soft
est wood and die The Bark, OF
Scale Lice will not appear until warm
weather are very small and white
naturally work upward are only 6
few days on the move until they fine
safe place, when they incase them
selves and stay their as may be seer
on any young last years shoot.
Thus any one familiar with horti
culture will see at once that there
two distinct insects independent o.
each other One feeds on the juices
of the bark and the other on the Jul,
ces of the leaves and soft wood and
follow up the new wood as fast as il
grows.
Thus far nothing has been discov-
cred as q remedy for the Bark Louise
which is efectual. / have tried sew
eral remedies recommended, such as
tar and linseed oil, whale oil soar
and waters, soft soap and sulphur
powder and whitewash and common
paint. All these washes and paints
when put on early, before the buds
burst, so as not to injure them, have
a good effect for q season or two, but
they soon appear again, as there 81
ways will be places that are over,
locked, or not thoroughly soaked
with the application, and they soon
get the start again. A few years
ago a Milwaukee gentleman, q think
Mr.. Crocker) announced through the
Farmer that he had effectually cured
e few trees by covering them with a
canvass or tent smoking them with
sulphur. 1t is true he killed the lice,
but be so injured the foliage that the
trees died the same summer.
The only safe and cheap remedy
that can be quickly applied is, to
to take garden forde pump or large
syringe with q small hose and Jet,