The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-12
THE SAN JOSE SCALE.
The Appearance and Treatment. Franklin sherman, Jr, 'Entomologis

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 The Appearance and Treatment. Franklin sherman, Jr, Entomologist,
 Department of Agriculture. Ral-
 eigh, N. c.
 The San Jose Scale is widely distrib- uted in North Carolina and does great harm to orchard trees if not combat ted. It is known to be in forty-four of the ninety-seven counties of the State. The present account deals es- pecially with the life history and hab- its of the pest, since the matter of rem cdies will be dealt with more in detail later and the full directions for mak- ing the Lime-Sulphur-S wash (which is the best remedy known) can be had from Chronological Circular No. 5, which will be sent to anyone on appli- cation.
 Badly infested trees appear as if they were dusted over with ashes, and when scraped with a knife this unnatural covering is easily removed, coming off in little haky patches. Each full grown female scale is about the size of pin head, circular in outline, fiattened and grayish in color. When the branch or twig is thickly infested the scales may be so thick as to be piled over one another so that the real bark is not visible at all. If the tree Is not badly infested it may be of the ordinary ap- pearance, except here and there along the branches where the scales are found. The male scales are smaller than the female and are oblong in shape instead of circular. Partly grown scales are very small and almost black in color.
 When first born the young insects are so small as to be barely visible to the unaided eye, and are yellow in col or. For few hours the young insects crawl about, then they insert their tiny beaks into the bark and suck the sap. Soon after they thus begin to feed the skin is shed and the scale begins to form over the body so that the insect is fastened to the bark at the place where it first begins to feed.
 The male, when fully mature. emerges as a tiny yellowish two-wing- ed insect capable of flight. It Is so small as to be seen with difficulty. The female always remains under the scale and there gives birth to her young. When winter comes on the old insects die. so that 1t is only the partly grown individuals that live through the win ter.
 It may be found on a tree most read fly by examining bark of one. two and three years growth. looking with spe- cial care for the reddish blotches on the twigs and around the buds and rings marking a years growth. Remember that the scale is circular in outline, nattened and gray or blackish in color, the full grown ones never much larger than a pin head and the younger scales may be as small as the point of a pin; and remember also, that if the tree is badly infested it will likely be in a dy- ing condition. ashy in appearance, and the scales so thick that the true bark cannot be seen at all.
 Any person who finds symptoms of these pests on his trees should at once cut specimens and send them for ex- animation.
 Spread.
 The insect can only spread of its own accord while it Is young, just after birth and before it begins to feed. for 1t is only at that time that it can crawl about. For this reason the great ma jority of the young settle on the same tree where they are born, but by meana of wind, birds, insects and commerce in nursery stock they are also aided greatly for the crawling young are easily blown from one tree to another, or carried on the feet or feathers of birds, or on insects which fly from tree to tree. By the shipment of young trees from nurseries the scale may be carried to any distance. If they are on the nursery stock.
 The San Jose scale is primarily pest of orchard fruit trees; 1t may also oc- cur. but less frequently, on rose. grape. currant gooseberry, mock orange and Japan walnut, but forest and shade trees are not appreciable factors in harboring or spreading 1t. The length of time it takes for the scale to kill tree will depend upon the kind of tree and the age at which 1t first became in fested. If infested when first set out, peach and plum are likely to die in from one to three years, and apple, pear and cherry in from two to four years. Of course. a tree that is infested should be treated regularly. whether it is in danger of dying or not, for otherwise 1t becomes a center from which the chardA