The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1897-05-20

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SM4k@ from that in its ma
ASI without its natural
NIS times increase inor-
dinately, as did the
lcerya purchase in California. The San
Jose scale, SO destructive in the United
States, attracts so little attention
wherever 1t originally came from, that
We do not to this day know with any
certainty its original habitat. Species
closely allied to the San Jose scale,
natives of the United States, are not
nearly SO destructive. The red scale OF
the orange, Aspidiotus aurantii, IN ia
maica never infests citrus fruits. but
occurs on lignum-vitae and palms; how
different are its habits in California!
In Japan there is scale almost ex-
actly identical with the San Jose scale.
which infests citrus trees, which the
real San Jose scale never does in Amer
lea Therefore, in view of such facts as
these, We can fairly say that We never
know what We are in for, when We in
noduce new scale. A traveller. bring
ing q little ornamental plant In pot,
may unwittingly ruin a great horti-
cultural industry. Most Of the worst
scales are general feeders, and are liza
be to spread from garden or even hot
house plants to orchards.
Climatic barriers cannot always be
trusted. The rapid spread Of some
scale insects shows that hey can en-
dure great differences Of climate. While
the climatic barriers to the spread OF
some species are real and important,
It will not do to trust too much to then.
1t is probable that the very rapid re-
production of coccidae enables them to
quickly adapt themselves to changes OF
climate, through the survival of the Mt
test. Thus II there are million scales
In an orchard which is touched by frost,
II only one gravid female survives it
Will sufice to eventually restock the
orchard, and with q comparatively
frost-proof race. Be this as it may, the
peach scale, Diaspis amygdali, flourish
es equally at Washington, d. c., and in
the tropics; and many others could be
cited which endure great differences
Of climate in different parts Of their
range.
It will now be useful to consider the
countries from which We are liable to
be infested. From Europe we may ex-
pect many pests of shade trees and de-
ciduous fruit trees especially. For ex-
ample, we have already received the
maple Phenacoccus, the elm Cosy
paria. the New York plum scale $50
called, the Lecanium bituberculatum,
etc. 1t must also be remembered that
tionably do, spread by way of Europ-
can lighthouses; in this way, for ex-
ample, Orthezia insignis, a destructive
West Indian species, was undoubtedly
introduced into Ceylon.
From the West Indies and Mexico
countries we may expect especially
pests of citrus fruits, of cotton, sugar
cane, ETC.; also the peach scale. Diaspis
amygdali, which has already reached
this country. A further exploration Of
Mexico and most of the West Indian
islands is urgently needed. to determine
the kinds of insect pests there occur
ring. From Japan, perhaps. we stand
in most danger. The climatic condi-
tons permit the growth of the same
species of fruit trees as are grown in
America, and of late japanese varieties
have become very popular, and have
been imported in quantity. The peach
scale, Diaspis amygdali, is common in
Japan, and there are many other in
furious species. Unfortunately, our
knowledge of japanese scale insects is
yet in its infancy, and someone ought
to be sent there for year to study the |
subject on the spot. Some injurious |
species may also come from Australia. |
New Zealand. the Sandwich Islands, |
and in fact any place whence plants
are brought. Especial care should he |
taken to prevent the Introduction of |
Asterolecanium pustuslans from the |
Sandwich Islands; 1t already exists in |
Florida, and IL common also In the |
West Indies. It especially infests ole |
onder.
Inferior Wood Ashes.
In Bulletin 43 of the New Hampshire |
College Agricultural Experiment Sta
tion Prof. Fred w. Morse writes: The |
time for purchasing fertilizers having |
come, the station wishes to call the at
tention of farmers to the veritable COM
position of wood ashes and particular
ly to some evidently fraudulent lots OF |
Canada asheA samples Of which were /