Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-07-07
THE FRUIT PESTS.
STATEMENT OF THE STATE INSPECTOR
OF WORK ACCOMPLISHED.
The Classes of Insects and Trees Operated
Upon The Remedies Applied
and Results Attained.

| EDS. RECORD UNION /: In answer to you
request for report in which to be giver
the leading points about my orchard, anc
also full statement rs TO insect pests which
have appeared Upon my place, remedies USED
and the results, would say Although it il
somewhat difficult to enter fully into clear
statement of the subject, will do go to the
extent yeur valuable space may allow. an
aware THAI there is too often hesitation or
the part of orchardists TO make known to the
public the actual facts concerning their in.
terests, and yet much good may at times be
accomplished by the frank statements re-
quired by such questions as you ask 1 have
already in different reports alluded to insect
pests, remedies and results, in connection
with my orchard, as well as work carried on
ia other orchards. and to these reports 1 refer
you below, so far as they go. l have been
careful to state accura'e ely what 1 have re-
ferred to, and will carry the subject still
further on at this time.
In my report to the Board of State Horti.
cultural Commissioners last year l referred
to my orchard in experiments as follows:
-
gallon. February, lS8i-One almond tree, one
Easte Beurre pear tree and apple trees grated
were WISHED by brush with this strength of I've in
order to destroy the red spider and its eggs which
could not be destroyed by prev Gus applications of
I've, one pound to five gallons, and one pound to
three gallons another and the main reason being
TO ascertain the Effects OF strong I've upon the
trees. No scale upon these trees. This application
destroyed the red spider and its eggs on these trees
that it did not appear for months but, however,
later the trees became again infested. While the
strong I've viii destroy large number of the eggs
of the red spider it is found all cannot be reached
The effect upon the bark and health of these trees
was wonderfully good, the bark being very smooth
and having bright green, vevety appearance and
totally free from all moss or other parasites.
No. 6. Concentrated I've, one pound water, one
gallon. The experiments in this number were made
upon section OF orchard ia a square block con-.
prising 357 Ickworth plum trees, cut down and
grated into Petite prune some yearling prune
trees having been put in in places and washed as
were the plums, of these 126 trees were washed in
February, 1881, with the above strong lye, applied
with brush. Among the 357 trees were eight
trees badly infested with scale. No others had any
scales upon them The infested trees were scat
tered about as follows and washed as indicated
No. 10 in first row and in eleventh row we're
washed with I've, one pound to three gallons of
water. The effect was not quite sufficient to com
petely destroy the scale, though so injured that
they did not breed. Afterward these two trees
were washed with one pound to one gallon and this
with I've, one pound to gallon of water with
the effect OF completely destroying every scale upon
them, and not one has appeared upon any OF these
trees since that time These trees have been in the
finest possible condition from the time of this ap
plication. Among the trees not washed with the
strong lye, two were found, in June, 1882 to have
scale upon them one of these, the top having
become badly broken by wind was dug out and
burned, the ether was washed soon as discovered
with the whale-oi soap and sulphur mixture; owing
to the foliage upon the tree not every part of it
could be touched. Yet, however, the scale was de-
strOyed, so far as could be found.
No. Z. Concentrated lye one pound to one and
one-haf gallons water Five Bartlett pear trees OBJ
tanned from the nursery and planted in 1881 ana
scattered among considerable number, although
carefully examined at the time for SCALE were found
in June, 1881, 20 have a few scales upon them
These were at once washed with the above strength
of I've, which destroyed the scale completely upon
three of those trees so that subsequently, ap-
pelred. On two of them, however, a live scale or
two must have remained on the trunk of the tree
at the surface of the ground untouched by the I've
as in September following a few young scales were
located close to the ground These were
again washed in the same manner Since that wash
ing no scale has been found upon either Of these
trees until this month October l6, 1882 On one
OF them has been found . few Young scale The
tree was Immediately washed with the whale oil
soap and sulphur mixture. On another Bartlett
tree, not, however, numbered with the
above, was found some scales, November 7, 1881 |
This tree, beng entirely dormant, was washed
with I've one pound to ore gallon Of water, com |
pletely destroying the scale, as none can be
ound on it this year. Among the yellow egg plum
zee, one was found January, 1882 with scale upon
IT, and washed at once with I've, one pound 10 one |
gallon Of water, and repeated in February No scale
we're left, as none can be found at this date. An
'ther egg plum tree found infested in June OF
his year. To this was applied, with brush the |
whale oil soap and sulphur MIXTURE with some I've |
Idded. No scale can now be found upon it.
The trees in experiments 3, 6 ard Z are in an or |
hard of 50 acres. l have constantly and carefully |
Watched all these trees, and at this date no scale
an be discovered III the entire orchard. Should |
my hereafter appear, the treatment will be by lye
me pound to one gallon of water. With this sue
ess in my two years individual practice, feel JUS
iied in repeating the statemebt made at the first
state Fruit Growers Convention, that Young |
richards can be kept free from the ASpidiOtuS |
'e1licosS by the right use of concentrated lye as
winter wash, and the whaie-oil soap and sulphur
mixture for summer
After the experience of another season I !
AN still give most definite statements regard. |
ng the scale pest so dangerous to orchards
he ASpidi0tuS pe1WiciOSuS-on the yellow egg |
,lum tree mentioned in No. Z, which had |
Gale in January, 1882, and then washed |
With concentrated I've. there has never APP
'eared shy scale from that time. The tree is
low as healthy as any in the orchard, and no
marks even of their former presence can be
ound, and if did not know every tree as L |
10, could not easily find the affected one. l
an say the same regarding the Bartlett pears
here mentioned-no scale has since appeared |
pon any of the trees.
The egg-plum tree, found infested in June
asst and washed with the summer applics-
ion, "whale-oil soap and sulphur mixture
eveloped few scale at the very end OF the
easou, owing TO the extreme difficulty of
eaching every insect by any application
tba fnlT 10 fha |
,as treated in the winter with lye-oDe
ound to one gallon of water-while dor.
lant, and there can no signs of scale be
iscovered, as q careful examination
D dsy was made to see if any
ad escaped. Another tree. French prune.
eferred to in No. 6, June, 1882, was found
] the winter TO have retained few scale
rom the same causes, and having been treated
8 above in the winter is now entirely free
rom the pest, and vigorous as any of those
urrounding it. J. have at this moment of
'riting just returned from an investigation
I'D can find no trace Of scale and measured
rowth OF over four feet of new wood
mis- season. These two trees, being
ne only ones infested during the past
ear, were 800 feet apart, go that the
Gale did not spread from one to the other.
he only means by which this scale could ap-
ear upon these two trees and no Others IN
be orchard is by transportation from distant
richards upon the feet of birds.
The egg plum last referred TO showed, when
Tashed by the lye, more injury to the fruit
purs from the application than any previous
rec washed. Many of the spurs were killed,
ut that was attributable TO the possible ex-
"a strong washing and the particular state Of
he weather at that time, long period of
OF, glsring days and drought prevailing.
his tree, however, has recovered its vigor
nd healthy growth, and has made over three
set of new wood at this time.
1 enter thus particularly upon this subject
ecsuse to my mind it presents many points
Importance and interest to the horticult-
rist. This season can find no trace of this
,ale in my orchard, and feel sure that none
re in it and can only appear as they may
.om time to time be brought by birds.
With regard 10 treatment 1 am more fully
onvinced than ever before that the proper
,medie5 have been used, viz Whale.od
mp and sulphur Nurture for summer, and
9pe1Jcnu concentrated l7e for winter The |