The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-31
It's LIFE HISTORY.

and branches of the trees. Some are
only about half grown, others full
grown, but all completely dormant.
With the first flow of sap in the
spring they begin to feed again and
all become fully matured in May or
June, when the first brood of larvae
is produced. The larvae are very
minute and can hardly be detected
without the use Of lens. Under the
lens they look very much like little
yellowlsh mites. They move about
actively for short time and then set
tie down on the tender twigs, leaves
or fruit, into which they insert their
beaks and begin to suck the juices
Soon they commence the secretion of
waxy substance which is the begin
ming of the formation OF the scaly Gov
ering. After this they never move
about and as they grow larger the
scale is enlarged and thickened until
1T forms very effective armor, within
which great change takes place in
the appearance of the insect. The
legs and antennae soon entirely dis
appear and the females lose their eyes
also. In less than three weeks from
the time of Matching the males change
to pupae and about a week later ap-
pear as the fully developed insect.
This is minute delicate winged
creature bearing Il straight stoutish
appendage at the posterior end. It
lives but short time in this adult
condition and probably takes no part
In the propagation OF the species
These are rarely seen except when
bred in breeding jars.
The females are fully grown about
thirty days after Matching and soon
begin to bring forth living young; one
female giving birth to over five hun
dred young. Mr.. L. O. Howard has
estimated that the descendants of a
single female for a single season may
reach 3,216,OS0, 400 allowing for four
generations each season, and as the
majority Of these live, especially if the
conditions are all favorable, the ra-
pidity with which tree or orchard
becomes infected is not to be wonder
ed at. The young do not all appear
at once that is, there are no definite
broods, but they may be found in all
stages of development, from May un-
til October.
The insect spreads from tree to tree
or from orchard to orchard mostly
while in the larval state. They are
so very light that the wind may often
carry them from one tree to another;
many doubtless crawl upon other in
sects or on the feet of birds that visit
the tree and are thus sometimes car
ried considerable distances OF course
the shipment of infested fruit and
nursery stock is also a source of dang
er for in this way alone can we &C
count for the spread of the pest over
widely separated areas.
REMEDIES.
No remedy is equal to prevention,
so we would urge at the outset all or
orchardists to keep a sharp outlook
lest the scale be introduced unawares
on their places. Inspect all nursery
stock with sharp eyes and don't allow
old fruit boxes to be brought on the
place. A little time spent this way
each year may prevent you spending
much money later in spraying for it
after your orchard has become infect
ed.
Next to prevention, the best thing
is to discover the pest promptly after
it is introduced. This is easy to do
by carefully inspecting the fruit on
the the trees before it is picked. The
tell-tale red spots at once revealed the
presence of the scale and oftentimes
but one or twp trees may become in
fected the FIRST season. The prompt
sprying of these Of course will at once
stamp out the pest and save the ex-
pense of treating the entire orchard.
When the orchard has become in
tested there is no remedy but to spray.
AS result of experiments ard obser
vations in the Snake River orchards
carried out last winter we can sta e
with all confidence that the sulphur
salt.lime wash properly made and
properly applied is the cheapest and
most effective spray to use and we re-
commend it without reserve, at least
for Eastern Washington 1t is pre-
pared as follows, viz; Lime, so
pounds; sulphur, %; salt, IS; water
to make 100 gallons.
Take Is pounds of lime and 25
pounds of sulphur, boil with 20 gallons
of water for about two hours, or until
the sulphur is thoroughly dissolved
and the mixture is OF deep amber
color. While boiling the liquid must
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