The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-09
bearing upon the leading industry of this

bearing upon the leading industry of this
section. there was a general feeling of salts
faction among our people when II was de-
creed that entomology should hereafter be
one of the regular topics for study in the
schools OF Alameda County. p. NJ. Fisher,
Schools, prepared Tor this purpose q small
work on the subject which is now used as a
textbook in the schools. purpose which it
serves admirably. Hefe in Centreville
there exists a peculiar need for some such
work in Our school, owing to the
fact of our large foreign population. In our
school fully 80 per cent OF the pupils hear no
English spoken at home. Their parents are
Portuguese, thrifty and industrious, but, not
speaking our language, they naturally
enough take no horticultural journals and
come very little in contact with our best
Informed orchardists. As a consequence, 1t
is in the orchards of this class that the fruit
pests most do flourish without hndrance or
application of the best-knowh remedies for
their determination.
The presence of these infested orchards in
the midst of an orchard section is constant
menace to all. Therefore, when the require
ment was made that entomology should be
taught in our public schools, the local School
Board determined that it should be effec-
lively done; that the children should be
made thoroughly to understand the need of
proceeding theoretically against the fruit
pests, and instructed to tell their parents at
home what they themselves were taught at
school upon the subject. An apter illustra-
ton OF the practical workings of that safe
guard of our Government, tie public school,
it would be difficult to find.
For use in the school the Trustees have
provided powerful microscope and suitable
apparatus, and fortunately for the complete
success Of the project the principal, Profess
sOr Leslie A. Jordan, an efficient teacher
and old newspaper man in this State, has
proved an enthusiastic coadjutor in the
work.
Under Mr.. Jordan's instruction the chill
dren have proved interested and intelligent
pupils, eagerly cooperating with him III the
dissemination of knowledge upon the sub
ject, bringing infected branches from the
orchards and carrying home implicit direc-
tons for dealing with the destroyer.
The greater part of the present term has
been devoted to studying the habits and
treatment of the brown apricot scale, which
has been, for some time past. dangerous
menace to the orchards of this vicinity.
There has been a constant effort among our
advanced hOrticulturists to eradicate this
pest, but early this season the minute brown
scales were to be seen in appalling numbers,
lying along the branches, all ready, in due
course of time, to send forth their armies
upon work Of devastation. One of these
scales, when placed under the microscope
about 500 power may be seen to be filed
with myriads Of minute insects, Invisible to
navertheess who live ,non ," ~. iaices Of
The free and finn drain IT. varv iii i,fa '"'o
In instructing the children as to the best
MEANS VI oH.oi nnatns tnio scale IoieS 40,
y Wi i' De nau .ao "pe ot MI
m,,i,a;n pa,i.' Ine ,esHeI' ole'cul.uia;
,aa ,,, III VIII n"H i ,.a falso
enoe IN. VIZ .,i'1 pa. w. .Lee rue ye",
extent that the life Of his fine orchard was
.Irt .,,ia s mssnponS anu 9ienanu1.o