Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-29
AGRICULTURAL.
MATTER PREPARED SPECIALLY FOR
TIE RECORD UNION
Notes Of Interest to the Farmer, the
Dairyman, the Stock Raiser
and the Fruit-Grower.


and the Fruit-Grower.
The State Board of Agriculture and Fruit
Insects.
It is not known positively how the codling
moth or the scale insects were introduced
into California 1t is certain that there were
no evidences of the presence of the codling
moth in our orchards prior to about five
years ago. Up to that time it was the boast
of all California fruit-growers that our APP
pies and pears were, as to form and size, at
least almost absolutely perfect. Those who
gave the subject but little thought, or who
had but little experience in fruit culture il
other countries, naturally came to the con-
clusion that our exemption from these
pests was due to some peculiarly
favorable condition of our climate.
The more thoughtful and those OF
experience had not the courage to give
credence to this opinion, and attributed the
exemption simply to the fact thai we had
been fortunate il not having these insects in
troduced among u.s. These latter were there
fore on the lockout for the first advent Of the
fruit enemy. Could they have had the fore
sight and influence to have induced the Leg
islature to have placed such regulation over
the introduction Of trees, scions, fruit, ETC.. as
would have kept the evil away from Us,
they would have merited not only the
thanks but pension from the State.
During the past four or FIVE years that it has
been known that the enemies had obtained
Judgment in our orchards, the State Board Of
Agriculture has repeatedly called public at
tention to the fact md TO the necessity OF
concerted action for their determination.
Early last spring the Board determined to
take some active measures looking to creating
a public sense Of the danger to which one of
our best industries was exposed, and effected
an arrangement with Cooke 4 Son OF Sacra-
mento, who had given the study Of the insects
a great deal of attention, and who had been
active and successful IN discovering iusectci les
for their determination, to make exhibit
ton of all the insects known to
be infesting the orchards and vineyards
of any portion Of the State, at the last State
Fair. In pursuance of this arrangement ap-
pie trees infested with the larva Of the cod
ling moth in various stages of development,
concealed under the bark, in creviCes about
the junction OF the branches and the main
stem OF the tree aud In the fruit itself, We're
dug up with their ROOTS planted In boxes of
soil aud brought into the Pavilion. Branches
of trees and fruit covered with the apple
scale. FROM San Jose and other localities, were
obtained and placed on exhibition. Grape
vines withroots infested with phylloxera were
also uprooted and brought in, to afford
vineyafdists and Others interested an
opportunity Of viewing and becoming
!
sight, but by studying their modes
of operation in destroying the vines
Some dozen maguifying glasses or micro
scopes were purchased by the Board, so as to
accommodate q large number of persons
anxious to make personal acquaintance
with some Of these insects and the whole
exhibition was placed IN charge Of MIR Cooke,
an enthusiastic, sslf.5gught entomologist.
FrUit-gruwers and vine growers from every
section Of the State came to witness this ex-
hibition at the State Fair, and many of them
became so deeply interested that they spent
the whole tiue-six DAYS OF the fair-in
studying these little pests from the egg to
the perfect insect and taking careful notes of
their habits. From the facilities afford
ed by this exhibition thousands Of
people directly interested in fruit and vine
culture throughout the State are now able TO
detect the presence Of any of these orchard
pests In their trees or fruit, or Of the vine
enemy IN their vineyards, and have learned
just how and when % make war against
them-have acquired better knowledge of
the whole su 5jsc4 chan they could have OBJ
tanned by i.s-stady Of scientific treatises
on technical entomology. They may not
understand their natural classification, or
their scientific names, OF the nomenclature Of
their several parts or marks. bu5 they know
their popular uames-know them by general
form and appearance, and know at glance
the indications OF their presence. For all
practical PURPOSES these people know this
lesson as perfectly as the most scientific en-
tomologist in the State. and are as well pre-
pared to apply discriminating compounds, or
TO prevent or couH5eracG their ravages or
chseB their proposition, as the most learned
scientists. Tools for seraping trees band
traps for fastening around their stems, and
alkaline washes for killing th5 insects aud
producing q vigorous smooth bark in the
future, were also exhibited, and their use
and application. The Board has also
followed up the Investigations thus
hsppily inaugurased and have found
that the various insect pests are much more
widely disseminated over the State than the
best Informed in the premises had any idea Of
They have incontroVertible evidence that the
phylloxera have obtained a Judgment in the
vineyards Of nearly every county in the State
IN which yine-culture has been engaged in to
any extent; that the scale insects are not
aGly doing great damage to the orchards in
and about San Jose, but that the same in
sect is to be found on apple trees, though not
e. SO great an extent, In other sections Of the
State; that orange trees in Los Angeles and
other southern counties are infested with
scale insect peculiar to them and Is threat.
eniug the continued prosperity of semi trop-
ieai fruit-cuiture; that the red spider and
wiretapper are also accumulatlng rapidly Ia
localities, and doing esch It's peculiar damage.
Thus one Of the most valuable industries of
the State is being menaced by an enemy the
people are as a rule but ft5le acquainted
with, and consequently have but little idea
how to deal with
HOW TO Remedy THE EVIL
Il one of the most serious questions Of the
day from an industrial standpoint. We I'm
derstand, however tbat the Board have
marked out d line Of action which, if fol.
lowed up, they belisve viii pretty effectually
remove the menace and bring our hoetieult
Ural and vine dus5Iies back TO their normal
condition Close observation has convinced
them that, Sc far as the ravages Of the phyi-
loxera il the vineyards are concerned, the
condition of each single vine has much 90 do
with the amount at injury doae; and she
same relstiGn Of condition ana iajaFy Is
applicable Ee tie whole vineyard as to the
single vines a soil containing the natural
elements OF fertility to the vine produces a
healthy growth and luxuriant vine, and an
abundance OF perfect fruit, and to all iHtents
and purposes is a phylioxera-pro0f vine
whatever sc the name or kind OF vine. If
this be true, and it may be asserted that
nature teaches this doctrine, not only as to
vegetable, but to animal life as well,
then the shortest road to phylloxera-
proof vineyards lies in the direction of
a fertilization required by the vines.
What this fertilization should be IN each par
ticular case viii depend to certain extent
on the nature of the ingredients already in
the soil of each vineyard, but bone dust,
potash and lime, Is a rule, will furnish the
ingredients generally needed. A sickly,
poorly eared.for calf seems to breed lice; so
a vine, tree or any other vegetable growth, if
allowed to become stuuted IN growth and
sickly from asy cause is most sure
to be infested with lice OF insect lie pc.
cuiiar to it. Take that same poor calf
give it mild blood purifiers and nurse it with
invigorating aud strengthening food, bring it