Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-10-17
The Red scale Hug.

OHS Gay ldSt Wteh we maQS u Littit tElp
out to the splendid orchard farm of Mr.. j.
B. Parker, nbout three miles northeast of
Orange, to look at his work, which is being
carried on for the purpose of exterminat-
ing the redscale. He has 3,4O0 orange
trees and his orchard, hanging full of fine
looking fruit, presents a splendid appear
ance, and gives promise of a very healthy
crop. Mr. Parker tells us that he has hid
red scale for the past five year, and they
have been gradually increasing in mum bers.
and latterly to an extent that threat
ened the destruction OF his trees
He has been using different kinds
of washes for spraying in former
years, but he has had little or no success in
"killing the bugs" This season he tells us
he came to the conclusion that he had
"been giving them sugsr.coated pills lung
enough" and that something mad to be
done which would count, and with that in
view in his mind he commenced making
applications which he was iearful would
spoil his crop and possibly kill the trees.
lie has been very happily disappointed,
however, and finds. now that time has been
given to decide as to the results, tnat he
has killed probably 80 per cent. OF the scale,
and has not even injured the crop
of oranges. Trees were shown to
rs which have been sprayed very
lately, and Others which had had their
washing one or two months since. The lat
ter are showing plainly that they have been
benefited, are already bright and thrifty,
and will, no doubt, be entirely free from
the PEST after this season, as Mr. Parker In.
tends to keep up the fight vigorously He
business is that the orchardists have not
learned what degree of strength to apply in
the wash. He has experimental until he is
satisfied he has found the right proportions,
and he will wash his trees with just as
strong a solution as they will bear. and not
injure them permanently.
MIR. Parker is not backward in saying
that he "has control of the red scale-bpg'
iu his orchards. He is satisfied that he has
a large percentage OF them killed, and
knows that repeated applications will ex'
terminate them. That Is good news for
range growers, and we think that everV-
one of them, whether their trees are in
fected or not, should take look at Mr..
Parker's work. lie has had much expert
epce in fighting the pest, and he is not at
all backward in giving his neighbors the
benefit of his experience. the proper
tions and ingredients OF his wash are
not secrets, but he will cheerfully give
them to any who may wish to use them:
The cost lis not alarming ,ature, either. OF
course the expense is considerable. but no
man with an orange orchard can afford 10
the bug has got foothold In his trees,
whether he eau afford to wash. He can't
afford to do anything else. because II he
don't kill the bug the bug will kill his
trees. Mr.. Parker thinks that he has
demonstrated shat the bugs can be killed
and the trees and fruit saved, and he ex-
tends general invitation to those who are
interested to come and see for themselves.
Mr. Park IT tells us that some time ago,
acting as Fruit Pest Inspector for this dis
trict, he talked TO many orange.growers
about washing and spraying. aud that they
met him with the question: what shall
we wash with that you can assure us will
do the business?" He concluded to go
home and make practical tests which would
settle the question, aud he thinks he Is now
in position to say to them: Do thus aud so,
wash the trees thoroughly with such and
such material, and you will get rid of the
pest that is destroying your orchards. And
he thinks he can and has, and Is proving
the truth OF his assertion on his own trees
every day.
Nobody who has any experience will con
cude that the killing Is to be effected with
one washing. 1t can't be done. IL Is utterly
impossible to put the wash on to every bug
at one application, and the only way Is to go
the second, and ii necessary the third time,
the strength of the wash to be determined
somewhat by the work 1t is expected to do.
Another point is to have the mixture we'll
churned-thorougly mixed. The oil, unless
the wash is kept we'll mixed, rises to the
ton. aud when it does come out and strikes
the leaves and tender twigs, makes a bad
showing. .4E
We shalt publ ii the proportions OF the
wash used by Mr.. Parker, In next weeks is
sue and those who need IL will do well to
clip II out and preserve it.-Orange Trib
une