Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-10-13
INSECT ENEMIES.
THE WAR AGAINST THEN lEGUN
But ROT IN EARNEST.
The Pest Scourge in Southern Cali
Enthusiastically Insects Take
Hand Against Them.

J The work for destroying the cotton
cushion scale in this city, inaugurated b
the city authority, which has just bee
entered upon, is progressing slowly, but g
yet there is no such response upon the pal
of tn ose having infested trees and ground.
as promises any permanent results in relic
Of the tin 'eatened scourge. There is no gen
eraI movement towards determined effor
to extermin.ate the pest, and but few
even of those who have been notified b
the Inspector have thus far lifted finge
to respond TO the work required of then
to cleanse their trees and grounds.
1t might as well be understood and recoe
nized, first as last, that unless the work O.
destroying and cleaning all infested Dor
tions of the city is entered upon heartily
by all, or that all are compelled alike tc
proceed and persistently work in the mat.
ter to the desired end, nothing need be done
at all so far as entirely ridding the city OF
the threatening danger is concerned. Ii
the warfare is made general and in sys-
tematlc way, the end so much to be de-
sired will be accomplished, and the bepe-
fetal results to Sacramento cannot even he
estimated. If this is not done. moreover.
the people and the authorities will be re,
sponslble for the loss of the shade and
ornamental trees, shrubs and even flower
ing plants, for which the Capital City is so
widely noted, and beyond this. for heavy
loss IN our real estate values.
vi course all cannot be ACCOMPLISHED in
Gay, and some are applying themselves
TO the duty and task in hand with COM
mendable zeal, but in most instances.
where persons are SO working, parties ad-
joining them, as will be seen in all parts of
the city where the pest has secured foot
hoid, are doing nothing making no effort
ana either DO not care, or Micawb ber-like
are waiting for something to turn up."
Now this is not right, and since the city
authorities have very properly taken hold
OF the matter of stamping out this pest,
such disregard of personal interests and
the rights and interests of others must not
be permitted. Let US have a general
movement and united effort to down the
enemy, or else all join with Nero and sit
still and fiddle while Rome burns.
There are two things to be arrived at, and
which should and must be accomplished.
in dealing with the cottony cushion scale
as 1t now exists in Sacramento. First to
confine it to its present area of infestation
and prevent its spread to other portions of
the city; second, to effectually fight and
stamp it out wherever it now exists. Both
OF these are equally essential, for every
yard that is kept from becoming infested is
saved from imminent danger of having
every tree, shrub and flower within it
totally destroyed; and those where it now
exists will be thus treated by the pest un-
less it is exterminated.
The RFcOPD- INIoN has haratoforo ,,;,,a,,
the result of its investigations and import
ant discovery concerning the usefulness of
ants in assisting to annihilate the black and
other kinds of scale, and expressed the
hope that the ant would also be found to
be an enemy of the cottony cushion scale,
and to ascertain which fact investigations
are being made. There is being received
every day cumulative evidence of the fact
that the black scale is entirely DESTROYED
and trees cleared whenever the ants find it.
We could give numerous cases in addition
to those already published in the RECORD
UNION, where it has been observed in
this vicinity, and in many cases where
other kinds OF scales have been also de-
stroyed.
AID FROM ANTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
In this connection the following letter,
published by the Los Angeles ErDress
shows the value of ants in DESTROYING the
black and other scale in Southern Califor-
MIA, and as the writer indicates, quite posi-
bly, the cottony cushion scale also:
Editor Express, In one of the METROPOLITAN
journals of yesterday morning noticed com
munication from A. F. KerchevaI, of our city.
relating to the cottony cushion scale am glad
to know the result of my own observation is con
tirmed 10y so distinguished an authority as Mr.
Kercheval. Some two weeks agony wife called
my attention to the condition of the scale pre-
cisely similar to that noted by Mr.. Kercheval.
The bugs, both great and small, are undoubtedly
dying. had intended to call public attention
to this condition of things through the columns
of your estimable periodical, but concluded not
to do so until had made some further obserya-
tions. find that in many instances the scales,
in all stages of their growth, from the time they
assume the "cottony" appearance, have been
punctured. and that viscous gum exudes from
the wound. l am not certain whether this lis
done by the ants, for find these insects work
ing on the scale, as they do in the case of the
black scale and other pests of the kind. But |
am engaged in watching the movement of a fly
which am inclined to think is busy in the be-
neticent work OF destruction. This fly is in size
about half as large again as the common house
fly, and has red head and green wings. have
not heretofore noticed this fly in my garden.
But whether 1t be this fly or the ants, or any
other insect, it is evident that the cottony-
cushion" scale has an enemy, and that it is di-
minishing notably in number | had about
made up my mind to abandon my garden to
Il
inclined TO think that the ravages of the scale
Will be checked, even though 1t be not exter-
minated. 1t is to be hoped that this is So for
the pest has taken possession not only of the
Shruobery and trees in our gardens and the
trees and vines in our orchards, but of native
trees and weeds and every green thing.
My garden is three miles away from the
grounds of Mr.. Weiss, where Mr. KerchevaPs
observations were made. 1t is reasonable to
suppose, therefore, that this condition of the
scale, noticed by both of us, exists in other
PAGES as well: Ihere is scale everywhere both
in the city and in the country, so that everyone
Will be able to discover whether the good work
goes on in all parts.
GEORGE BUTLER GRIFFIN.
10 Downey avenue
Los Angeles October 4, 1888.
In connection with the above letter. the
Express editorially says:
We publish elsewhere letter from Colonel
u. Butler Griffin, which viii be read with a
great deal OF interest by orchardsts and vine
yardists. Colonel Griffin, who has one of the
most unique gardens in Southern California
and who is close observer, thinks that the
whlte scale, or " cottony cushion SCALE is from
some cause dying out He was about to uproot
his entire garden when he made this welcome
discovery. He has not yet fully concluded what
is the cause of the fatality to the scale. The
white scale is the worst pest that our fruit men
have to contend against, and if it should die
on and peter out, as all other pests eyentu-
ally do, such as grasshoppers, potato bugs and
the IKE, 1t would give new yigor to the entire
southern country.
The people of Sacramento now have the
white scale all over their city, and they will be
equally interested with our own people in Col
onel Griffin S discovery.
1t will be seen. therefore, that the ant hes
at least achieved a solid reputation for de-
stroyipg the black scale and some other
minor fruit pests, and is now on its good
behavior concerning the cottony cushion
scale. If it shall add this pest to its
conquests, the people of California will
rise up and forever call it blessed. Even
with the good work the ant is now known
to be engaged in against insects injurious
to man, it becomes evident what the sage
meant when he said, as recorded in Sacred
Writ:
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her
ways ana be wise.
Notwithstanding, the hope that may rea-
sonably be entertained, that in the general
balance of the economy of nature. an eff
fective insect enemy of The cottouy cushion
scale will in time be developed; yet. lest
that time be so far in the future that before
its arrival all our trees, and even the grass
of our beautiful lawns, shall be DESTROYED.
leaving the city barren of shade and beauty.
no one can wisely abste one particle of
effort 10 exterlninate this all-blighting pest.
There is no safety bnt in the most ener-
getic united and well directed efforts for it's
speedy death and permanent obliteration.
Salyini,s Exhibifion