Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-27
OUR FRUIT ENEMIES.
PURIFIER LEGISLATION AGAINST THE
INSECT PESTS.
Statement of Matthew Cooke, Chief Eorti
cultural officer, Before the Assembly
Committee on Agriculture.


ance to the interests of large portion of
the readers of the RECORD UNION than
that of the preservation and protection Of
our orchards and vineyards from the en-
croaching and destroying army of insect
pests which have within the past few years
gradually become numerous in various por-
tions of the State, and it may be said, are
to be found in nearly all sections to a
greater or less extent. Reference has here
tofore been made TO the bills presented be-
fore the Legislature upon the subject, and
from which it ia probable that new Law
creating Horticultural Board viii be
passed during the present session, giving
properly defined powers and duties, by
which these great interests may be pro-
tected and saved. Matthew Cooke, Chief
Horticultural Officer, has appeared before
the Assembly Committee on Agriculture,
which committee has the bills upon the
subject under consideration, and made an
interesting statement upon the questions
covered by the proposed legislation, point
ing out the necessities of the case, the
powers required by the Horticultural
Board that its work may be effective, and
furnishing other valuable information,
including results thus far obtained under
the limited powers conferred by the pres
ent law. Following is brief
SYNOPSIS OF TILE STATEMENT.
Califorais, from It's geographical position
nov
ious insects, especially those injurious 20
fruit and fruit trees, IN one season than can
be produced Ia like time in any other 70.
cality on the surface OF the globe. In El-
rope there is but one brood of the cooling
moth each year in the States east OF the
Rocky Mountains there are two broods
each year, while in California there are
three broods in each year, and In 1881,
owing to the early spring and late fall,
there were four broods. The codling moth
made its appearance in one orchard IN the
vicinity OF Sacramento in the spring of 1874
and since that time has spread to an alarm
ing extent, and can be found at present IN
thirty.two counties. Later the scale In
sects appeared, not only on the citrus trees
and deeiduous fruit trees, but also on orna-
mental and forest trees. Then followed
the eaterpillars Of various species of moths !;
the mite family, represented by the So
called red spider then various species
of destructive beetles, plant lice, saw.tlies,
thrips, leaf hoppers, etc, so that at the
present time there are in the orchards a
large stock, and in general, it may be said,
is fully assorted.
WHERE THEY CAME FROM.
A majority of the destructive insects
were imported into this State. For in
stance, few barrels of apples brought
from the Eastern States to exhibit at the
S tate Fair Of 1873 presented the California
fruit-growers with the pest known as the
cooling moth. or apple worm, which has
proved so destructive to the apple, pear
and ounce crops. Eastern shippers of
green fruit fear, unless it can be extermi-
mated, the shipment of pears to the Eastern
market will have to be abandoned, espe-
cially the fall varieties. 1t IS generally be-
heved that few orange and lemon trees
imported from Australia and planted in
Los Angeles county brought with them the
so called red scale which now infests many
of the citrus trees in orchards and in gar
dens, not only in Los Angeles county, but
in other counties IS far north as Sacra-
mento and Yuba. That the SO. called San
Jose scale is an importation from some
country beyond the Pacific Ocean l have
no hesitation in stating, but was probably
imported on some shrubs or ornamental
trees. Il Is now found in many counties
of the State. It attacks all kinds of de-
ciduous trees, excepting, perhaps, the
Black Tartarian cherry. It has also been
found on the tomato. and on the eucalYp-
tus, Usage orange, etc. The cottony cush.
ion scale is an Importation from New Tea
land or Australia, and is a dangerous ac-
QUESTION. Il attacks all kinds of fruit
trees, forest and ornamental trees, and
shrubs. There are other species of scale,
such as the gJUtt0n trapax), the rose scale,
ETC., and the LecGniuns-al injurious.
Caterpllars Tor larvae have attacked the
PLAN, cherry, peach and apricot. | might
give many more, but consider those men
toned sufficient for the present purpose.
HINDRANcEs IN THE PAST.
1 was appointed Chief Executive Horti-
cultural Officer April ), 1851. My duties
were defined by the vitlcultural law, but
as the law was originally passed for the
protection of viticnlture, and the require
ments of horticulture being so much diff
ferent, difficulties unforeseen by the legis-
lators arose, when the enforcement of the
laws relating to quarantl line was attempted.
For instance, the various species of noxious
insects infesting fruit and fruit trees were
tenfold in number to those infesting grape
vines and their produce, and having differ
emit habits, etc., the law was imperative to
great extent, excepting at a ruinOus cost
-. " 4
to the County Boards of horticultural
Commissioners, as prescribed by law, were
merely advisory. Therefore, ii some in-
stances where mistakes occurred, they
were not in any way connected with the
State Office The Board Of Horticulture
met quarterly and made such recommends
tions as it deemed necessary for the protec-
ton of the industry IN accord with the
laws, and such Recommendations were sp-
proved by the State Board of VIticaltural
Commissioners.
WORK ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED.
Since the approval of the law dated
March 4th and l4th, 1881, great progress
has been made in experiments for the de-
struction Of insect pests, and conf.
dence restored in districts that were
thought nearly destroyed by them,
and tha5 there was no remedy for the evil.
In various sections Of the State a great
amount Of labor has been performed,
though in many localities the work has not
become general. Bat notable for general
work is Santa Clara county, in which a
large number Of orchards were infested by
the so-called San jose scale, fromits preva-
lenee in that locslity, but later named By
Prof. Comstock, the U. S. Enlomologiss, as
4. PeTaicioSas. or lhs pernieious scale.
The work has been effectively done, and
consider the frnis growers Of Santa Clara
county are masters OF the situation, so far
as the scale i1seos referred to is concerned.
But am sorry TO say that new enemy
has appeared in their forest and orna-
mental trees, which viii require stringent
Efforts ami such legislation as is now asked
to have it exterrninsted. Irefer to the cot.
tony cushion scsle, which mas made its ap-
r,aoraroa fhsro