Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-07-21
$ps Sugeles aleralll.
rsss AND VIE PESTS.



nrsn The HvsAing Exprsss.)
We had very interesting inter-
view to-day with Mr.. Matthew
Cooke, the Chief Executive. and
Health Onicer Of the Board of Hor-
tioultural Commissioners, on the
e0bjeot Of the insect pests which
infsst our fruit trees and grape
vines. We had DO idea OF the ex-
tent to which these pests had
spread In this section Of the State
until we interviewed Mr.. Cooke.
That gentleman has been here and
IL San Bernardino for several days,
and has devoted his time to the in
spsotion Of orchards and vineyards
He nnds that q very destructive
lnseet, known as the vine-hopper,
or Djsdr0.cepA0ius, has made
lite appearance In some of our vine-
yards. This insect is well
known In the northern part of
the State, and has committed very
serious ravagss there. Mr.. Blowers
near Woodland, lost 2 200 twenty
pound boxes of raIslns by it last
year. Fortunately 1t is not an un.
foreground enemy, and can be easi-
" eradicated II the Infected vines
are treated In time. Mr.. Cooke
dnIs that the codling moth, red
spider (mite) and others of the In
scot enemies to deciduous fruit
tress are Increasing very rapidly.
Orchards In the. lower part OF the
city show the codling moth In
large numbers. It 10 necessary to
start In At once to cure this evil.
Fortunately the remedies are cheap
and effective. A solution of I've
4hQMered upon the trees through q
spray pipe will be found effective
TO destroy the red spider, one pound
Of lye to gallon OF water is sufh.
Client. With the proper facilities
one man can disinfect 100 trees
In : day. The common scale. bug
which 10 found on our fruit trees
can be ehectually treated by So
luton only half as strong as that
required for the red spider. A Gu.
riona fact was ascertained by Mr..
Cooke ct San Bernardino. and that
IT, that ashes from the cottonwood
tree produce . three times stronger
I've than that produced from the
ashes Of other woods. Mr.. Cooke
says that the red scsle-bug found
now principally on the orange trees
q the Mission, is spreading not
culy In this county, but that he has
just received from Mary sville leaves
which were found to be infected by
thls destructive parasite. He does
not attach any permanent import
apoo to the appearance of this bug
II our oraDge-growers will take
seasonable steps to eradicate 1t
The black refuse or niger soap Of
the soap factories made into suds
Will overcome it. 1t will not kill
the mortal part of the grown
bug, for that consists OF a spire
leading froLa the nodus into the
wood Of the tree. But it will de-
stroy the larve and eggs, thus linn
iting Its powers of propagation.
Mr.. Cooke is Of the opinion that
our orchardists should lose no time
IN attacking the enemles which
have made their appearance In our
fruit trees, and is conf1dest that
the only wy to secure a combined
effort which will completely eradi.
cate the evil, IL to take advantage
Of the machinery of the law au-
thorisinG each county to appoint
competent men to act as q Board of
County Horticultural Commission
m whose powers extend to the
enforcement Of q system of disin-
feotfon upon ell fruit-growers. He
believes that such q Board, with
local Inspe ctors, would soon find
their Iabors rewarded by the eradi.
cation of an evil which otherwise
thrsatens very serious consequences
to our horticultural interests.