The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-16
LETTER FROM NILES.
The Scale Bug and the Methods
Used to Kill It-N0les.

Editor Morning Cal: Sprayingis finished
and the results are being summed up. There
have been no less than five washes used and
one other process-the trunks of the trees
are bored.
substance uhe Ingredients being kept a.
secreO IS placed in the hole. which is then
plugged, and In about two months 1t Is claimed
the scale viii be dead The two months have
not yet passed and the result can not be deter
min ed; but TO tetutu 10 The spraying. Ii IS
pretty generally admitted that there are not
as many scale this season as last, whether
last season, or 100 dry this OF that the many
strange bugs found on the trees nave got the
upper hand no man can tell Nhale-oil soap,
potash and ye, iGssclicide, lAL, iron wash, coal
oil aud crude petroleum. as we'll as mixtures of
each of these have been used with varying re-
suits aud Al various costs. Those That have not
been Injurious 10 The trees have Killed from 80
per cent upward.
The last State Horticultural report contains
fine plates and descriptions OF The many bugs
that feed upon the scale, aud the observing
worker here cannot fail to find half dozen or
more OF these varieties on his trees, but because
OF the washes they have not had an opportunity
to prove their usefulness. There is tiny black
lady-bug not an eighth OF an Inch long found
Under tile old scale, tile familiar red lady bug.
the long green and black one, much like the
sduash-bug, tie lace fly and a large dark gray
fellow, diamond shaped, as large as four or i've
lady-bugs, al al work, besides several others
that cannot al The moment be recalled.
Within a InIe OF Town widow has ranch OF
nearly ] 90 acres, which size has been personally
conducting for the asst ten years or mere, and
has reared ard educated a bright family OF boys
and girls meanwhile Two OF whom now assist
her IN The care OF the ranch, which is, however,
SIN under her supervision. On this ranch are
few old trees, peach, apricot and almond
orebard-iB all about sixty acres, all planted
within six years. The tees this place ara
absolutely free from scale and have never been
sprayed. The owner accounts Tor It In tile fol-
lowing interesting manner: Last fall the daugh-
ter purchased several house plants In san + an-
cisco aud brought them home. 1t was not long
before they noticed strange bug about, which
multiplied rapidly and In few weeks could be
seen by thousands In the orchard. Upon Inquiry
it was found that these house plants had been
housed (after being brought from Japan for
some time with plants from Australia, and ii Is
surmIsed that that is the source OF their advent
into the orchard. The bug Is fully hall inch
long and quarter of an inch wide, yeTmilltOn
body, with black head aud shoulders.
Inc orchard was not badly Infected, still
would have been sprayed this season, but II Is
perfectly clean now and the bug has dis
appeared, only few remaining in sight, tucked
under drooping limb Or hidden 10 last years
birds nest. This little pest, which only made Its
appearance In tie orchards three years ago, APP
bearing about the same YER in most OF The
middle counties OF the state, is found on many
OF The wild shrubs III the canyons and Is not a
stranger TO Eastern fruit men, who are also
troubled with various other pests of more
dangerous character still.
The iruit interest will not suffer yet for the
lack of rain, but the feed for stock is getting
very scarce ana the hills are as brown as thry
were in October. Roses, violets, plnks, chry-
sanlbeums and callas, blooming all winter, and
almonds ana aprcOts IN blossom. II is rumored
that cents has already been offered for APP
ricOts.
Rev. F. II. Maar and wife have returned from
their wedding tour. MIR. Maar Will conduct
services usual next Sunday.
state Superintendent Anderson has appor-
Toned The State school moneys. Alameda County
standing third in the list with more than Sl75-
600. County Superintendent Prick has appor-
Toned the county moneys, ana Niles has re-
ceived S946, which, with the other funds, Will
ALLOW nine full months or school.
Judge Peters finds his hands full Within the
past six weeks he has sent fifteen or twenty
tramns to jail for from twenty TO thirty DAYS
each besides the other half dozen or more trials
which he has disposed Of
variety OF weaihers have been experienced
the past week-a day or so with the Thermometer
al 500, north wind with tile thermometer nearer
400, gentle south breeze. and last tie welcome
rain, raIn. rain. MRS. l.. E. THANE.