Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-04-12
HORTICULTURAL.
INFORMATION BIZ THE RECORD
UNIONS ENTOMOLOGIST.
Answers TO Correspondents Concern
ing Insect Pests. and Other
Matters of Interest.

this State but little EFFORT mas Deen uiue
by the fruit-growers in regard TO forming
societies, or meeting together in their re-
spective districts, for the Interchange of
opinion in relation to all matters connected
with their industries, especially planting,
pruning, cultivation, selection Of varieties
of trees to plant, marketing of produce,
protection of trees and fruit from mildew
and other diseases, also from the rayages
of insect pests, etc. Such organizations are
of untold value to the enterprising fruit
growers, as the information disseminated
in this manner, to say the least, Is con-
tagious; even those who disbelieye ia such
methods of gaining intellectual and practi-
cal knowledge are led to initiate the exam
pie of those who make a success OF their
Undertakings.
In some Of the fruit-growing districts
societies for the protection and promotion
of horticultural industries have been or
ganized, and are the means OF disseninat
ing valuable information. The fruit
growers of Eden township, in Alameda
county, held their monthly meeting on the
18th instant in their hall at Haywards The
President Of the Society is H. Meeks of
San Lorenzo. A. p Crane, of San To-
renzO Is Secretary. The meeting was we'll
attended even some of the fair sex take
such interest in horticultural matters as to
be present The subject for discussion was
the Best Method of Drying Fruits" and
also their preparation for market. A val
liable paper on the subject, written by Mr..
Blackwood, Of Haywards was read; the
discussion and interchange Of opinions
which followed was very interesting, and
will undoubtedly be the means Of causing
a thorough investigation to be made the
coming season as 10 the merits Of the vari-
Gus methods recommended III relation to
the cost of preparation and quality OF fruit
produced.
First, fruit dried upon trays placed
upon the ground; second, fruit dried upon
platforms raised three or four feet from the
ground; third, fruit dried upon roofs of
houses, etc; fourth, fruit dried in any of
the mechanical appliances Tor eyaporators)
now in use; fifth, the best method Of Sc
Letting and packing for market.
The subject for next meeting is the best
varieties of fruit for home canning.
The fruit-growers of Eden township
which includes the owners of the extensive
orchards at San Lorenzo and Haywards,
evidently believe in the saying that " the
gods helps those who help themselves" and
are therefore using every endeavor to make
the products of their orchards rs profitable
is possible The orchards at San Lorenzo
and Haywards are comparatively free from
insect pests that are injurious to fruits,
there being but few trees infested by scale
insects; and the Goblin moth has not been
allowed to spread to a dangerous extent.
Appearances indicate that every effort Will
be made to prevent its spread in the future.
Some of the orchards have been infested
with canker worm, which DESTROYS the
foliage of the trees to a serious extent; but
the intelligent work done since the lst of
December by capturing the female moths
(Which are wingless) has been 50 success
full that injury to foliage this season will
be verv light As soon as some expert
ments that are now under way Will be COM
pleted a full account of the canker worms
and the methods by which they were ex-
terminated will be given in these columns,
illustrated.
sHoRT-sNOUTED BEETLE.
Mr.. Lewelling, of San Lorenzo received
some 5000 cherry plants from the East this
season, and planted them in rows for nur-
sery stock As soon as they commenced to
put forth leaves it was noticed that the
Young growth of leaves and buds were de-
stroyed. Investigation proved the pest to
be a short-snouted beetle, which feeds upon
the plants at night and hides under the
ground in DAYTIME The beetle is about
three-tenths of an inch in length, and of
a dark-brown color, and belongs to the |
family Crcdisnjdg Henry Marlin, of
San Lorenzo. had grated 500 cherry trees, !
and as soon as the buds appeared on the (
gratis they were destroyed; investigation |
proved the injury was done by this beetle. |
On the 9TH instant Mr. Marlin banded all |
his grated trees with paper, on which he |
placed a preparation OF tar, such as used /
for capturing the female Of the Canker
worm. This has proved successful, in pre-
venting the beetles from ascending the
trees. These beetles can be readily de-
stroyed by manipulating, about . o'clock P.
NJ. The nature and history of these beetles, !
and the results Of experiments for their
determination, will be given in these col /
umns as soon rs completed.
GRAIN wEEvIL AND PARASITES.
n. w. Blanchard, Santa Paula, Ventura
county, writes:
send YOU some grain wceyil and some speci- !
mems of what we call lourbugs; also some J
small flies thar are found with the wecvil and /
aour-bugS The small flies are very numerous. /
and are apparently coming out of the grain, /
through the meshes of the sacks, along with the |
beetles. As have not noticed these insects (the |
small flies before this time, and tearing they are
an additional pest send them to you for eX- |
animation.
Replv-Of the specimens received there |
are two species of curculio, namely, Cniaa |
dca granayi,s, or wheat weevil, and the !
Crlqndra ol1~0. or rice weeyil, which also |
feeds upon wheat il differ, from the for !
mer in having two reddish spots on each |
wing case. and is smaller in size. The bran !
and flour beetle is the .SyllaRu' q1ad,ieoViS, !
and is also found to be injurious to wheat, !
rye and oats in store.
CHALCID FLIES. |
The small flies YOU send belong to the |
order Hvmcnoptcra, and to the family /
Cdaildidr The chalcid flies are a group |
of great extent; and from their color being |
either metallic, or bronzcd. they are known !
by the popular name BrGSsistS. Excepting |
the genus Elugtona, one species Of which |
infests growing wheat, another barley, and
another rye. and are known as ioint-worms, |
chalcid flies are parasitic, and inieSt the
larve and eggs of many species OF insects
therefore, if your surmise, that they are
coming out OF the wheat, i correct You
hrve made an interesting discovery, not
only to economic entomologists, but also to
the wheat growers and wheat-dealerS of
this State
The specimens YOU send are in all proba
bilty the TomoecrG Caiy0rnlcG Com
stock J. or closely related thereto. Professor
Comstock found the r. Caiyornioa in south
ern California in 1880, and pronounced it a
new species In his description ne gave
the length Of the body one-twelfth of an
inch; expan>e Of wings, one-seventh OF an
inch: color-head, face, scape Of antennP,
4 III. 4 l.,