Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-10
WAR UPON FRUIT INSECT PESTS.
Operations at the Eovato Orchard, Marin
County


following data in relation 70 the fruit interest
ETC., were obtained by representative of the
RECORD UNION yesterday:
The Novato Ranch is situated about
twelve miles from San Rafael, on the North
Pacific Railroad, the residence and orchard
Of Mr. De Long being about two miles west
from the railroad station. The orchard con-
tains about 1900 bearing fruit trees. o.
these $4,000 are apple, 5000 apricot (which
will produce at least 100 tons of apricots this
season., 5000 Bartlett pears. and the balance
plum, cherry. pear, etc There are also sew.
ersl acres of fruit trees recently planted
Adjoining the orchard are ten acres of Mis-
sion grapevines, which produce immense
crops. Besides the large grain fields which
will produce from forty to sixty bushels per
acre this season, there are five diaries on the
ranch, in which there are l, 100 mich cows.
All kinds of the latest improved ms
butter, vinegar, cider, ETC., for market,
are to be found here. The buildings
on this ranch, If collected together,
would make a village of respectable appear
auce. In the vicinity of the orchard one
large building is used as cider mill, which
has an immense crushing capacity. The
present ground timbers are 20 inches by 70
inches, and are not of sufficient strength.
Iron sills have been received to replace them.
Another building, 40 feet long by 70 wide
and two stories high, is used as vinegar
factory. There is also a blacksmith shop
and carpenter shop. Store-rooms for cider
and vinegar, clearinghouse for the men EN-.
ployed, etc.; the apple-house (so-called), will
IN mi % No
Novato orchard was perfectly free from the
insect pests, which were doing great damage
TO orchards in other portions of the State.
About two years ago caterpillar, known as
the CtistocdDlpd constrtctd, appeared In this
orchard, but
WAS NOT THOUGHT TO BE ANYWAY DE-
sTRUcTIvE.
Last year it appeared in immense hordes,
threatening the destruction of the whole
apple crop. 1t cost Mr.. De Long 81, 600 in
the month of May, 1881, to fight this pest.
and by so doing he saved crop of apples
which returned nearly $50 900. The moth of
this caterpillar places the eggs in q ring
around the growth of the previous year. Last
spring gang of men were set to work pick
ing off the eggs, which cost about 81 80 per
ounce to gather. Each ounce Of eggs repre-
sented about $4,000 csterpillars, and the
total amount gathered represented the de-
struction of 10000, 900 caterpillars. 1t was
impossible to gather all of the eggs; how
ever, the crop of cater pillars this season was
light The picking off the eggs proved sue
cess. Last season it was noticed that a para
site, 8 tachinco fly, had destroyed large
number of the caterpiliars. probably one
third. This season fully sixty per cent. of
those found in cocoons are destroyed by a
species of ichneumon fiy.
The Bartlett pear trees planted four years
ago have been seriously infested, last year
and this season, by the pear slug, Seldndria
eeraSi. Mr.. De.Long has solved the problem
in regard to the determination of this pest.
He washed Tor sprsyed) the foliage of tie
trees thoroughly with the whale oil soap and
sulphur mixture, and has effectually de.
stroYed the slugs and ovs on every leaf
washed. Two species of small caterpillars
appeared as leaf eaters on some trees in the
orchard this season, but the work done for
the determination of the codling moth was
very efectual in driving the strangers to
misery.
TRAP-PRoBABLY THE LARG.
EST IN THE UNITED STATES (NoT Pa
TENTKD).
When the apple boxes returned frem San
Francisco last fall and this spring were ex.
infested by the Larvae of the codling moth.
rne boxes were carefully examined, and all
larya found in them destroyed. In some
boxes ten Larvae were found. Mr.. De Long
as he would not require his apple
boxes before next September, he would place
the boxes in the store-room and attempt to
trap the moths, If any, that would hatch in
the boxes, or that might be around the floors,
etc. The apple-house is ninety feet long by
seventy wide, and three stories high (about
fifty feet. The lower story, or cellar, is
Twelve feet high, the walls are of masonry,
and the openings are two large doors and six
,mall windows In this space is packed about
30, GOO empty boxes. The openings are COW
sred by mosquito bars on the outside. So, at
she present time, it has not been opened to
earn what amount of moths have been ma
sured. The second story is about sixteen feet
high, the walls brick-work. and the opening
three large doors and twelve windows. These
openings are all covered with mosquito-bars
on the inside. About 3, 600 empty boxes are
stored on this floor. The upper story is
formed by the hip-shaped roof (gables and roof
are of wood. and is about twenty feet high
from the floor to the ridge-pole. There are
fourteen windows in this story. The OPEN
ings and gables are covered with mosquito
bars. About 1000 empty boxes are on this
floor. Since this trap was completed
over 5000 codling moths have been killed
On the openings of the second and third
floors, especially on those of the upper floor.
One man examines and destroys the moths
three times each day. In the mornings the
number captured are small the greatest
numbers are captured in the afternoon. The
average number captured each day is about
275. It may be mentioned that the closing
up the openings to capture the moths
has also imprisoned myriads of bats that
infest the roof of the building. As the moth
is a night flyer, the bats may capture large
number of them. This may account for the
small number captured in the mornings. At
the present writing the Larvae can only be
noticed in fruit on trees in the immediate
vicinity of the apple-house. Men are kept
picking off all fruit showing signs Of Larvae,
which are Immediately destroyed. It is
could be secured as TO be perfectly
closed. However, if the 6,000 moths cap
tured, up to the It'll instant, had
reached the orchard, it would have cost
Mr.. De Long large quantity of fruit, in
addition to the expense of picking it off and
destroying the pest. In some of the fruit
picked off the Larvae are about three-fourths
GROVE, or about twenty days since they were
Matched, and would be ready to leave the
fruit In six days, say the 18th instant. How
ever, the work has been so thoroughly done,
the apple and pear trees have been ali
scraped, washed, bands put on them, and the
cultivation SO perfect, that any Larvae escap.
ing from the fruit will be trapped in the
bands or in the rags placed in the crotches
Of the trees.
SPRAYING OF THE TREEs.
Fourteen men and four teams are EN-.
ployed. Examining the trees for infested fruit
1t present four men are at work. Mr.. De
Long evidently believes that IAN ounce of
prevention is better than pound of cure -
and is determined that he will prevent the
pests from spreading in his orchard, prospect
i've of cost. When it is taken into consideration
that the Novato orchard is isolated from any
orchard that is infested by insect pests that
its produce is principally sold in one house in
San Francisco, and that the empty packages
are returned in vessel belonging to Mr.. De
Long, producing the results as above stated.
what danger may be expected to orchard
where return packages are received,
shipped from various commission houses and
nlaced Drnrniscuouslv nm hoard q etoarnha,t