Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. xxxi
l Another interesting discovery made during the past ‘two
. years is the presence in this State of numerous small Hymen-
opterous parasites working on the dreaded San Jose scale, the
3 most destructive fruit pest introduced into America in recent
’ years. The work of the parasites was noted by Professor
g Garman in 1912, and during the past summer they appeared »
9 in numbers on scales kept in the laboratory and secured from
VS A Lexington and some of the mountain counties. It is hoped
O that the parasites can be increased in numbers and distrib- A
it uted to localities in which they are not yet at work. At the
it request of the Illinois State Entomologist, a batch. of them
has already been sent to Illinois. The San Jose scale has
gd during the past ten years, occasioned more worry to fruit
lg growers than any other dozen pests. If these little parasites
,,5 multiply and spread as we hope they will, the scale ought in
lg the course of a few years to become much less dangerous.
At present, the scale is everywhere present in the fruit
Bp growing sections of the eastern and western United States.
Of By our State inspection law, it was for many years kept sup-
Brs pressed in our nurseries, but with no adequate provision in
ng our law for keeping it out of other premises, it has spread in
his the orchards of the State until it is becoming difficult to keep
She nursery stock free from it and all of our nurserymen will, it
red is believed, be ultimately compelled to fumigate their stock.
SS, In anticipation of this condition, most of them‘ have now
ry, equipped themselves with fumigating houses or boxes. In
the this condition of things, the little parasites above mentioned,
ced are most welcome visitors in our orchards, and some san-
Our guine person has denominated their discovery, and their dis-
Sm tribution among fruit growers, as the most important
it horticultural work accomplished in recent years. This view V
of the matter, however, must be accepted with a good deal