Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-02
NEWS ABOUT THE RANCHES.
John Scott Writes About the
Coccophagus Citrinus.
Typical Facts About Southern Cali
fOrnia Farms.
Points as to How Best to Fight the Red
and Yellow scale-sugar Beet Gull
ture-Our viney srds-The
Simoni Plum.


ture-Our viney ards-The
Simoni Plum.
John Scott, county horticultural COM
missioner, writes as follows to the Mon
rovia Messenger:
Your correspondent in last weeks
Messenger, signing himself Zone of the
Kickers," and reproducing letter of
mine written year ago to the state
board, is evidently "back number"
do not for a moment wish to deny the
authorship Of the letter, but during the
past year sufficient evidence has
been adduced to very much vitiate
and annul the general opinion as to the
chalcid fly (coccophagus citrinus) being
an effective parasite of the yellow scale
(aspidiotus citrinus.) If my amiable
critic will take the trouble to examine
orchards carefully where this parasite
is at work, he will notice that only
about 33 to 40 per cent of the dead scale
gives any evidence of being parasitized !;
that lie, show hole in the top through
which the fly makes it's escape.
The argument has been advanced that
the parasite also made it's escape fir, m
under the edge Of the scale, but this is
go unscientific that it is not tenable.
The parasite larva remains in the scale
until full grown it then transforms to
pupa. and the adult parasite emerges
through the round hole In the top of the
scale. This is the invariable rule. In
view Of these facts (learned after careful
observation and experimenting), the
chalcid fly is no longer considered an
effective parasite of the yellow scale.
But what killed the remaining two
thirds? Minute examinations made by
the department at Washington on spec
linens sent, revealed the existence of
two kinds of fungi spores, but it ia as
yet difficult to say whether the scale in
sects were killed by the fungus or
whether they were attacked after death.
Investigation to definitely determine
this point are now in progress.
That the chalcid fly is not effective in
keeping the yellow scale in check is
shown by its appearance in many or
chards this season where it was sup
posed to have cleaned it out. In my
own orchard, the yellow scale has never
been 80 bad as this year, and the only
hope OF saving my crop was to fdmi-
gate. Other orchards cou d be men,
toned where a similar state of things
exists. As to the many causes that have
contributed to diminish the yellow scale
in the San Gabriel valley during the
past several yeare, outside of this 33 to
40 per cent killed by the fly, is matter
as yet not definitely settled. It may be
attributed to the action OF a fungus. to
climatic conditions, to want OF proper
conditions of insect life during certain
seasons or periods. But whatever the
cause. the best authorities in economic
entomology have decided that as effect
i've parasites of the yellow scale the
chalcid fly is a failure. So much for the
information of your correspondent, and
others who may hold his views, as to
my change of opinion.
And now word about fumigation
and general cleaning up. Iargue that
simply as a commercial proposition it is
good business sense to fumigate. Not
only does it relieve the tree from an ex-
cessive drain of its vitality by ridding it
of the scale, but it results in q superior
quality of product-fruit that shall be
clean from scale and better developed
than that grown on scale infested trees.
In addition to the above advantages it
in many cases saves scrubbing oranges
and lemons covered with scale, while
the tree, being freed from the pest, is at
once invigorated and put in fine condi-
tion for good crop the following sea-
son.
Neither the board of supervisors or
myself are at all disposed to ''entaiP'
any unnecessary hardship upon the
growers, but in order to make an effect
i've campaign against injurious insects,
it is essential that the cleansing of in
fected orchards shall be general
throughout the country. It will not do
for the enterprising horticultural. who
cultivates and keeps his trees clean, to
be 1einfected by infected orchards
owned possibly by Zone of the kickers;"
it is not justice.
Another important fact: The genuine
red scale (aspidiotus aurantii) that but
for fumigation would have ruined citrus
culture in Orange county is gradually
gaining a foothold in the San Gabriel
valley. 1t is already quite well estab-
lished in certain orchards, and unless
heroic measures are. taken will become
general. We have az yet no effective
parasite for this scourge and growers
willonly 0be consulting their own inter-
ests to at once stamp it out. It is my
business, in an official capacity, to erad-
icate and suppress our insect enemies as
far as possible. To bring it abou:
quickly, amicably and without any fric-
ton ask the cooperation of everyone
having the interest OF no 'ticulture al
heart. l shall always deem it pleasure
to assist everyone to the best of my
knowledge and ability.
The Lemon for Profit.