The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-03-31
The Scale Insect.
Editor Of the Florida Agriculturist:

The fact that the orange tree in
common with other fruit producing /
trees is liable to become diseased and |
suffer from the attack of insects
should not deter us from mentioning
it in the newspapers, especially those
devoted to agriculture and fruit grow
ing, for fear that some might be de-
TERED from moving to the State and
engaging in fruit culture. think it
is duty OF fruit growers to can
didly admit that in raising orange
trees there are drawbacks and diff
culties to contend with. There are
diseases which we do not compre-
hend, and insect pests do injure our
trees. Shall we feel any hesitancy
in describing them, and manitesting
a desire to obtain a remedy, lest
some fearful one should settle in
some other state? Must each one
in silently search out the remedy and
seifishly keep his experience to him.
self? '1n the multitude Of council
lors there is safety ;" act honestly and
thus benefit others while being bene.
flied ourselves.
The orange trees in our State are
again being infested with several
species of the scale insect, and for
the want of proper remedy many
trees have been lost. In common
with others | have had to contend
with this pest, but now feel that |
am master of the situation and can
control them.
They are carried from tree to tree
by birds getting them on their feet,
and If there arc any trees in the
neighborhood infested the insect is
soon found among other groves. Ii
tree is attacked and we wish to
save it work must be commenced at
once, as the insects multiply rapidly
and soon get entire possession, COW
ering the limbs, leaves and thorns.
The first work to be done is to
manure heavily, SO as to start the
tree into healthy, vigorous growth;
prune off all the limbs that are
badly affected, as 10 local applica.
ton will save them after the bark be.
comes hard and of redish color
Also take off the thorns. A heavy
pruning of all affected parts and ma
nuring will often effectually clear
the tree OF the pest, as new top
soon forms. composed of healthy,
rapid growing wood. Many fruit
growers are depending entirely upon
this method.
My own experience leads me to
adopt threetoid method: Manur.
ing, pruning off the parts badly
effected, and the application of
preparation that will not injure the
tree and yet be destructive to insect
lite. In endeavoring to ascertain
what would probably accomplish
this object l remember ed all expert
ment l made some forty years ago
had purchased some valuable books
and wished to preserve them from
the attack of reaches which were do
ing much damage to my library. l
put few drops of creosote upon the
covers and they remain uniniured
to the present time. l made a mix
ture according to the following for
mula, on the principle that the cor
rosive properties tnat might injure
the tree would be modified, the in
sects destroyed, and the bark made
obnoxious, SO that if any young ones
should escape they would find no
place on which to attach themselves,
and therefore perish. The mixture
is composed of soft soap, three
quarts; half pint OF kerosene one
tablespoonful of creosote. These
should be frequently stirred SO that
they may fully unite with the soap
mix this with water until sufficiently
thin to apply with brush on leaves,
limbs and all parts effected. | have
made two applications of this mix
ture, about eight months intervening.
find few coccus upon my trees
now they are brought from mum.
ber of neglected trees in grove ad-
joining my own which will make it
necessary to use the preparation at
least once a year.
Other applications are recommend
ed and may, no doubt, do good.
Some, as grease and oils, which [ do