Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-11-23
FRUITS AND PESTS.
RAvAGEs OF INSECTS AND METHODS
OF DETERMINATION.
Interesting Discussion Upon Subjects Con.
nected With Fruit Growing-Per-
manent Organization.

Following the proceedings Of the Fruit Growers
Convention, published yesterday, the report OF DR..
S. F. Chaplin, State Inspector of Fruit Pests,
corning the progress OF efforts to exterminate the
enemies Of fruit, during the past year, was read,
1t was quite long and treated the subject exhaust
lively. Caterpillars, he says, have done hut little
damage during the past years. Finely pulverized
soil thrown over the trees has been found success
| full remedy. The wooly aphis has caused consider
able trouble throughout the State. Caustic soda in
strong solution applied to the collar Of the trees
and the large roots it, is eticacous remedy.
| In Santa Cruz orchard simple remedy was ap-
Piled namely, that Of allowing hogs TO dig about
| the orchards Where the hogs were permitted to
| run the aphs could not be found The red spider
| has caused much trouble. Whale oil soap and
| sulphur mixture and other decoctions have been
experimental with successfully. constant
mildew. Carbonate OF soda is effective against it.
| One of the most destructive pests is the Goblin
moth. The starving out process about to be
adopted in San Diego county is perhaps the best
one known. 1t is to destroy the young fruit upon
| which the moth feeds. 1t finds safe resort in
vines grown between of orchard trees, and for
that reason, if for no other, the ground between
the trees should be kept clear and clean. Gress-
| hoppers have committed extensive depredations in
portions of the State, especially upon pears, april
cots and lemons. The different species of fungi
have rendered worthless many trees ana mildew is
| another enemy of the fruit-grower. Carbonate of
soda may be successfully applied. The scale pest
also carefully considered, ana the importance OF
earnest work for its determination pointed
| out. The orange of the San Gabriel district
have assessed themselves five cents for every tree,
and thus raised fund Of over s., 1000, which is be-
ing used to assisS the efforts of The orchardists in
| exterminatng the dreaded scale pest. The report
contained much statistical information OF interest to
| the Convention.
| At its conclusion F. C. De Long, of Marin, the
owner Of several extensive orchards opened the dis
cussion upon the report, taking up the subject Of
the Goblin moth. Two methods OF destroying the
Goblin moth were described. One was TO fasten to
| the trees tin cans partially filled with liquid. The
| moth flies or drops into the can and is thus de
| stroyed. Another method is to set number OF
lamps in pans of water, and distribute them about
| the orchard The lamps. lighted at night, at
tract the moths, which stunned by flying against
the lamp and fall into the water where they be
captured and destroyed the next morning. The
moth must be trapped to be Killed, as II appears TO
Mark L. Mcdonald gave this remedy: Take
common nail key and coal tar the inside Through
| a hole in the bottom Of the keg sick candle.
Place the keg under tree, Light the candle at
night, and the moths will be found captured in the
| keg in the morning.
| After a number of methods for destroying the
moth had been presented, Mr.. Kelsey explained his
method to be to turn his hogs into the orchard to
eat theFfallen fruit, and the hogs gave no moth
chance to Climb tree. Several members expressed
the opinion that the only way to exterminate the
moths to dig up and burn all the infested trees
N. NJ Estee, of Napa, stated that he had pur-
chased 400 pear trees from San Jose and found they
ting rid OF the pest by the of concentrated ye
The I've should be administered with spray, as
when the young trees we're dipped they were almost
sure to die Mr. Haines reco mmendel caustic soda
1t kills the insects and ceanses the tree from moss
The proper solution was from one pound and half
TO a gallon of water.
Matthew Cooke cautioned horticuturists to be
careful during the year to save and care for all the
wood ashes they get. 1t made good lye wash,
and the cost Of preparations was every year becom
ing greater tax, but needlessy, as the wood ashes
that 20 to waste in the neighborhood Of every
chard, and which could be had for the gathering
will produce good I've.
W. NJ Williams of Fresno, cautioned orchardists
against dipping the young trees into troughs OF lye
and insanced case where 1000 trees, dipped into
a solution of pound of American I've to gallon
OF water, had nearly all been killed The same
strength Of I've, applied 10 the standing tree by the
spray process would not injure the tree at all.
Mr.. Williamson, Of Sacramento, addressed the
Convention on the subject of figs. No other coun
try on the GLOBE the speaker thought, could pro-
duce finer fig than those produced in the foothills
of this State At an altitude OF from 600 TO 1870
feet the fig tree will grow luxuri1ntly, with no
watering whatever. The common California black
| fig, which will grow almost anywhere in the State
can be made very profitable. There is fruit that
is 80 nutritious that will sustain life long as
the fig, excepting perhaps, the orange. Neither is
there fruit that possesses as many medicinal prop
critics, after one Is accustomed to It, as delicious
to the taste, the fig, with the same exception.
The tree will grow readily from cuttings, but, Curl
ously will not bear transpanting IL is easy tree
upon it less than any other fruit When 1t is
| understood properly, the work OF handling and
gathering the fig is very easy. The ground under
the tree should be thoroughly spread with and
the figs allowed to hang until they fall off or will
drop easily by shaking Then the fruit is nearly dry
enough to pack Most people commit the error
Of drying them too much. They want to be dried
very little, and should be still soft when packed
Notwithstanding that there Is a much larger quaG-
tty OF figs thrown on the market than few years
ago. the price keeps up Estimating lU0 trees TO the
,6a tba traa ut
gives 81 500 the for fruit that requires less
handling and than any other fruit The prices
now paid will greatly increase when the orchardists
understand the handling better. The large black fg
now the best but there other varieties that
are experimenting with that we hope will do
much better.
A long discussion ensued on figs, but points Of
value were presented additional TO the above
Mr.. Haines offered resolution providing for a
room in which to exhibit specimens at the next Con-
vention and inviting fruits growers to bring to the
attention OF members all things calculated to in
crease horticultural knowledge, such insects,
fruit, canned and dried, and machinery used in the
orchard.
Upon motion Of Professor Dwinelle, the resolu-
ton was amended so as TO provide that any exhibit
ton held under the auspices Of the Association
should net be open during the sessions OF the Con-
yention, and the resolution thus amended was
adopted.
made report recommending the formation of a
State Association Of Fruit Growers the only
ing reliable Information as to the condition and
vaIus Of the fruit crop. plan OF a society was
submitted. 1t named the Society the " Fruit Grow
ers' Association OF the State OF California" and de-
cared its object to be to obtain reliable iufOrma-
ton as TO the condition and value OF the fruit crop
in this State and other countries. A. I. Hatch,
William Johnston, L. w. Buck, w. II. Aiken, F. c.
De Long A. Block and W. H. Jessup appoint
ed an Executive Committee with full power to act
in CARRYING out the objects OF the Association, and
preparing rules and regulations for its government
~ sIIfc
elected at the annual meeting to be held at No 40
California street, San Francisco, az l r NJ on the
| first Tuesday of March, 1884 membership fee Of
$40 is exacted, and each member is pledged to fur
nish such information of the condition OF the crops
in his locality may lie ascertained.
Mr. Johnston said it had been proposed at first to
make the information to be gathered by this Society
free to ALL but in order to bring members to the AS
| ISOLATION the present plan was adopted.
Judge BlackwoOd, of Hlywards, opposed to
any close corporation, such as had been outlined.
Few men were willing to pay $40 for the favor of
obtaining the opinion OF the Executive Committee
on the fruit crop. better plan would be TO ogan-
ize Society in every fruit section, let it send in
| formation to the main Society and thus make up an
opinion worth something He would have nothing
| to do with the Society in its present shape.
A. Block was in favor of any plan TO get informa-
ton, and the closer the corporation the better he
liked it, The Gamers had close corporation, and
one firm had fixed the price of fruit last year. Any
thing that would enable growers to know the condi-
/ ton OF affairs well the Gamers would be OF
| benefit to them.
| L. W. Buck thought this Society was merely
starting point for organization II could and
probably would be nodded TO suit the members here
\ after.
G. W. Fraser, Of Elmira, in favor OF concerted
action protect the interests of the fruit growers,
but he thought il would be better TO include all agri
cultural interests in the State Grange, which would
obvate the necessity OF organizing this society.
Mr. Hatch opposed to the Grange idea The
| fruit growers wanted a separate organization.
| Mr. Haines suggested that the best plan was TO
establish newspaper organ, to be owne0 by the So
ciey, and which should be devoted ent rely to gath
ering information for fruit-growes.
After further remarks from others, the report sub
mitted by Mr.. Hatch was adopted.
| The Convention next discussed the subject OF
| stocks for fruit trees
| Mr. Aiken said he had obtained good results from
| budding plums and peaches on almond roots. The
trees had grown more vigorously than when budded
| on native stocks. The objection 70 plum roots
their tendency to sucker. II this could be over
come this root made excellent stock.
| Mr.. Haines stated that the plum root was very
unsuccessful in Santa Clara county. He had seen
| orchards in plum roots whose suckers resemb!ed
hay field. Besides, he mentioned that in orchard
planted with trees budded ON plum, peach anu a.
mond roots, heavy wind last year blew plum roots
all over, while scarcely any OF the others were in
jured.
Mr.. Williams claimed that orchardsts were apt to
run good things into the ground. Some trees sue
ceeded on light soil and heavy soil. 1t had
| been demonstrated that plum stock would not