Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-08-04
A FRUIT DESTROYER.
something of new Pest which has Come
to Stay.

About FIVE weeks ago few trees in the ex-
tensive almond orchard Of G. G. Briggs, at
DAyisyiIle, presented the appearance of q
slight blight, or as if suffering from excessive
drought. The difficulty increased, and in
time it was found that the trees affected were
the habita.ion Of some insect peat of intnit-
esimal proportions, which evidently were
doing the mischief. The effects of ths pests
at length spread so rapidly that about one
half Of the orchard has become injured seIi-
ously, so far as tha present crop is concerned,
and the leaves look as if Drowned by fire run
ming through the orchard. A careful exam.
nation OF the pest showed 1t 10 resemble, II
web formation, upon the ground beneath the
trees and upon the leaves, the red spider, and
vet the insect was of different appearance,
and, it was believed, much smsller.
& representative of the RECORD UNION,
visiting the 0akshade orchard, found the
same there, but not as yet in numbers suti-
Gent to do any damage. Those at these or
chards who had successfully extermiuated the
red spider and caused its entire disappear
ance from the premises by applications, last
Spring. Of whale oil SOAP held that the new
conner was not tbs red spider, but was OF an
entirely different color and of diff habit.
A careful microscopic inspection Of speci-
mems. by Matthew Cooke, shows that the
pest is what is deuominated tbs yellow mite,
and which has never before, so far as known,
proved destructive. It was found last year
in limited numbers on grapeyines, but caused
no injury. What the yellow mite is, and to
WHAT family it belongs, is just now a
subject of Interesting study. Little is said
of it in books, many OF TIE leading
works covering this field nos mentioning it..
It was supposed until quite recently to be
perfect insect, that is having only six legs
but il has now been ascertained that when It
reaches maturity, or after shedding its she'll
two or three times, it came out with eight
legs. thereby taking it out of the insect fam
lily proper, and bringing it within the family
Of spiders. Having reached this conclusion
ia the examination OF the new pest, it has to
be at once admitted that its habite and effects
are very similar to those of the red spider,
and the best authorities are uncertain now TO
classify it. Certain il is that the yellow mite,
whatever il is, must now be taken into con-
sideration along with the red spider, as a
vitality destructive enemy to fruit and fruit
trees-one which has come to stay, and will
make itself felt unless prevented by time
ly aad efficient efforts The same remedy,
however, which has proved specific for the
red spider will successfully exterpinate this
also, and which we gave short time since.
Il consists Of wash for spraying the foliage
aud trees, and composed of the following in
gradients "Thirty pounds Whale-oil SOAP,
ten pounds Havana tobacco stems, ten pounds
best sulphur, three pounds concentrated I've,
to 100 gallons of water" The trees must be
thoroughly sprayed with it, and repeated if
necessary. II is prompt and effective rem
edy, rs has been fully demonstrated.