Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-10-24
DAILY POST lNTELLIalHCEa
rur DANGER To oUR ORCHARDS

rmr nayCcS To OUR ORCHARDS
We find in the weekly Sacramento
Record Union a report of lecture de
Iivered before the State Grange, OF tbs
Patrons of Husbandry. at Stockton. ol
Chief Executive horticultural ofiicer
Matthew Cooke, Of Sacramento. W.
hope to find space for the publication Of
this instructive document entire. 4.
full of valuable information, and muct
Of il addresses itself directly to th'
farmer, stock grower and fruit raiser OF
this Territory. Mr.. Cooke takes for his
theme. "The pests that attack tree, nun
oyain. vine and flower incidentally Mr
Cooke referred to the diseases when az
tack our four footed friends, such as the
horse bot fly, the scale mite which pro
duces scab in sheep, etc. One portion
ofMr. Cookies lecture possesses perhaps
n more immediate interest for our read
ers than any other. We refer to what
he has to say about the apple tree pests
The woody aphis, he says, Is great
nest to fruit growers, consisting Of white
Llotches seen on limbs and trunks OF
trees. It lives on the roots in the winter
and ascends the tree in the spring. An
aphis, Of this species. produces ninety
i've young in Il days, and ten troods
wear, the tenth generation numbering
one quintillion. Its effects are observ-
able in hard, dry, brittle condition OF
the tree, which is, moreover, covered
with protuberances. Coal oil il sure de-
struction, but dangerous to the tree. A
safe and effective process is to wash the
tree with n decoction Of tobacco at Il
temperature of 1909.
The apple leaf plant louise, which Mr..
Cooke says, is plentiful in the Sacramen
TO Valley orchards, from whence 1t was
doubtless introduced into Oregon, and
brought thence to this Territory. il Of a
dark green color. They completely
cover the surface of tho leaves. Mr..
Cooke says: "Such trees, when dormant,
should be washed with an alkaline solu-
ton of concentrated lye-one pound to
each gallon of water. Spray the leaves
and fruit in early summer with a solu-
ton of whale oil soap; but whale oil
soap and sulphur mixed is q preferable
remedy-one pound Of soap and sui
phur to each gallon Of water" This pest,
Mr.. Cooke says, is certain to spread
alarmingly if not checked"
Our orchardists have disagreeable
experimental knowledge of the truth of
this latter assertion Of Mr.. Cooke. We
have heretofore urged in these columns
the organization of an active, well or
dered, and intelligent association of
horticulturists in this Territory, and we
now renew the suggestion.
The recommendations made by Mr.
Cooke are entitled to weight and re-
spect, and the remedies he proposes fcr
the particular pest which il doing Sc
much injury to our apple orchards ought
at least be given fair trial by those OF
our fruit growers who desire to save
their trees from destruction. In this
connection We suggest that there are in
this Territory, especially in the western
part Of it, thousands Of trees, planted
many years ago, which at best produce
only an inferior quality of fruit. They
have outlived their usefulness and now
gnarled, withered and vermin infested
serve no earthly purpose save as breed
ing houses for these pests, which are
doing 30 much harm, and threaten to do
30 much more.
It would be graceful and public
spirited act if the owners of such trees
would cut them down and make fire.
wood Of them, destroy them utterly, root
and branch.
Fruit culture can be made valuable
adjunct to our prosperity if intelligence
directs the business; but if it is to he
conducted with total disregard to the
prudential rules which must be observed
In order to make amy business success
ful and remanerative, wo may as well
make up our minds to pay ridiculously
extrava9ant prices for imported articles
which after all, arc not as good a. we
can raise at home.
We again invite and urge attention to
this subject, and shall DO very glad to
receive communications from our fruit
growing friends ON this subject, whether
they suggest other remedies than those
proposed by Mr.. Cooke, or embody the
results of experiments made in accord
ance with his plan.
We may remark further that Mr..
Cooke states that species 81 aphis in
fccts pear trees. which can be destroyed
BY the same treatment recommended
for the apple leaf louise. To kill the pear
tree snug, No recommends q liberal ap-
plication Of common dry dust or pow
dered lime, although it will be found, he
thinks, that thorough washing with
whale oil soap and sulphur is best.
But there is 30 much Of interest and
value in Mr.. Cookies lecture thae it is
impossible to epitomize i: in an article
like this.
We trust that our fruit growers will
second our efforts to create a healthy
public sentiment on this subject. /,
cannot be much longer neglected with.
out serious loss and damage.
-
TINE VENUE CHANGED,
Judge Greene in ordering a change
Of wanna in tina Chaila,,ra~ ~~c.. ho-