Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-09-18
cottony cushion scale.

SAN GABRIEL, CAL, Sept. II, 1874.
EDITOR HERALD: Since the date of
my first communication published in
your issue of the 10th instant, calling
the attention of the public to the grave
danger that now threatens our entire
fruit interests from the ravages of the
deadly Cotton Cushion Scale" have
seen much and heard of the general and
alarming spread of this pest.
stated that this insect was not only
the enemy Of the citrus family Of trees,
but was as formidable to all other vari-
cites and kinds, including ornamental
ones and as dangerous to the vines.
Since that time specimens have been
presented for my inspection, showing
the scale busy actually at work devour-
ing the fruit on the vines.
understand that many of the orch
ards in Los Angeles are literally covered
with this scale, and but few are entirely
free from it. In few months more this
cannot be said with truth OF any trees or
vines in and around the vicinity of Los
Angeles, unless immediate steps are
taken 10 arrest the march Of this deadly
pest.
repeat. ! am no alarmist. know
that calling the attention through the
public press to this evil we have among
us may expose me to much hostile criti-
cism. 1t may result in deterring many
from coming here, and may prevent
others already here from purchasing and
establishing homes. But bad as this
may be, detrimental as it undoubtedly
will be to our real estate interests tenn
porarily. yet this is not equal to the bad
effects of destroyed places and homes
already established, the Inevitable re-
sult OF the unchecked work of this pest.
The supineness Of our cit zens in the face
of this determined and destroying
enemy surpasses all understanding.
Two years ago but one little isolated
orchard was infected in this valley, and
eur citizens not realizing their danger
did nothing but let the owner fight the
pest as he thought best. But soon
from this orcl ard was implanted
colonies miles apart all over the valley
and then our people at last awoke to the
necessity Of immediate and vigorous ac-
tion.
Oar efforts have proved successful, but
we still find q few scale left, which are
promptly destroyed. A few months
more OF such caro- and attention and we
are safe; providing other orchardists are
not allowed to breed new colonies and
send them forth in the way OF infected
fruit or fruit boxes, or what is the most
common and dangerous method, by nur-
sery stock. of propagating such pests.
The County Government Bill invests
the Board Of Supervisors with the nec-
essary powers to deal with such condi-
tions as we now suffer from, and lawyers
Of distinguished abilities in Los Angeles
declare the bill constitutional. II such
is TIE case and God grant it Is So
then our people should see to it that the
Boari of Supervisors do their duty with.
out unnecessary delay, act in the prem
ises and press and enforce such local
measures as will c-mpel the immediate
disinfection Of all infected orchards or
vines.
It is useless to depend upon the vol
untary acts of the orchardists to adopt
and apply such measures and remedies as
the necessities of the case require.
There are men among us who, possess
ing large and valuable fruit interests,
have refused to subscribe one dollar to
the general fund for their own and
neighbors' protection, AMI again there
were others who have subscribed to the
fund and after their trees were exam
ined by an expert (hired and paid by the
Associatien) and found to be free of the
pest that then refused to pay their as
sessmen.. To reach such men-and
there are too many in every community
the power of the law must be invoked
and enforced against them. Unless
this is done aud the cotton cushion
scale" exterminated, l repeat wha. |
said in my former letter, ''our assessed
values Of to-day will shrink in three
years to what they were twenty years
ago" and the Assessors duties will be
circumscribed to the discrimination in
values Of city lots, grain and pasture
lands. Respectfully,
j. DEBARrH SHORE.