Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-03-10
IssEcr PESTS.

Prior to 1875 the fruit-growers of this State
entertained the opinion that their indus
try was absolutely safe from the in
sec. pests, such as were known in orchards in
States east of the r cky Mountains. The
cooling moth made its appearance in 1879.
and was allowed to spread in an alarming
manner. Entire orchards in the vicinity of
Sacramento were almost destroyed. aud the
fruit Of tbs ssmerendered worthless. Matthew
Cooke. the Chief Horticultural Officer of this
State, Is doing q good work and Is having
the orchardists throughout the State wage a
vigorous war for tae determination OF
these pests. Seventeen counties of this State
have chosen County Boards of Horticulture
70 see that the laws relative to this matter
are strictly enforced. A reporter called on
Mr.. Cooke Yesterday at his office on Front
street, between L and NJ, and was shown q
large number Of specimens of the different
species OF fruit and tree-destroyipg insects.
The red scale (ASpidiotuS AurdRtii) as viewed
with powerful microscope, Is formidable
looking insect, but would not be noticed with
the naked eve. AT first this pest was con-
lined to the county of Los Angeles, but now
is found as far north as MaTysville. The fol
lowing named are the most common and de-
structiva pests: Black scale, soft orange SCALE
apple scale, San Jose scale, cottony cushion
scale, white scale, red spider, caterpillars,
bo,ers. saw-fiies and fungi Mr.. Cooke estimates
that the damage TO the fruit crops OF this
State for the past few years Is not less than
50, GOO 600. A letter received by him few
days since will serve to show what they are
dong in Los Angeles county. The writer
says: 81 am in receipt Of your letter of
February Dist, and since then of q package of
certificates. Personally | regret that any
change of procedure was made at this period
in the matter of allowing certificates FIR
fruit. The strict enforcement of the law this
season would have compelled all owners Of
fruit trees to disinfect them thoroughly
during the coming year. Now am
little fearful this will not be done as
effectually and extensively as we desire.
The few men who gos their certificates
from me, after bucking for day or so. get
the soap and sui phur aud handle their fruit
as required by law, and the returns from San
Francisco have been at least as good as be-
fore. For instance, l have just received 500
for small shipment of ten boxes of oranges,
and my neighbors are doing equally as we'll
The chief GROWERS at Orange are two men,
one OF whom has been here eight years and
has not raised enough oranges to eat and the
other has four town lots. on which there may
be seventy small, black trees. The actual
rsisers of oranges are too much concerned
about getting their oranges off to market to
10 much talking. One has even confessed
that he considered his last shipment brought
a dollar box more simply because he had
washed ther. as required" Another letter
was received by the Chief Horticulturist yes
.erday from Victoria, B. c., containing some
apple twigs which were almost entirely COW
.red with Aplsis mali flias. The commulica-
ion is from J. Haywood, who states that
.hese insects are becoming quite troublesome
md destructive to the fruit Interests at