RBPOBT  OF  8TATB  BOABD  OF  HOBTICULTURB.       19

The  history  of  the  oyster-shell  bark  louse  in  the  Willamette
valley,  well  remembered  by  the  pioneer  fruit-grower,  is  an
illustration  in  point.  This  scale  had  for  years  literally  cov-
ered the  fruit  tree,  which  showed  the  effect  in  a  stunted,  sickly
growth  and  inferior  fruit.  The  spraying  outfit  and  bulletin
was  not  yet.  A  few  trees  had  been  washed  with  concentrated
lye  or  whale-oil  soap,  with  some  benefit,  but  the  applications
were  not  sufficiently  thorough  to  entirely  eradicate.  During
the  year  1862  this  scale  was  at  its  weAt.  In  the  apple  orchards
of  Seth  Lewelling  and  J.  H.  Lambert  we  examined  trees  and
found  the  growth  of  the  last  year  coated ;  not  an  inch  of  new
wood  was  free,  but  the  parasitic  enemy  had  come ;  and  one  or
two  years  later  not  a  bark  louse  could  be  found  in  the  Wil-
lamette valley,  and  it  has  not  troubled  us  since.
The  San  Jose  and  cottony-cushioned  scale  in  many  districts
of  California  has  a  like  history,  and  has  entirely  disappeared.
With  our  present  knowledge  it  would  be  too  much  to  say  just
when  we  may  lay  aside  the  spray  pump  and  trust  to  nature's
kindly  work  to  solve  the  problem  of  orchard  pests.  The  time
may  come  when  we  can  do  so;  meanwhile,  we  can  have  clean,
healthy  orchards,  and  abundant  fruit  of  superior  quality  by
an  intelligent  use  of  the  remedies  given  in  the  bulletin.
