The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-18
FUMIGATE THE TREES.
w. ii. Souther Says 1t Is the Only
WaV TO Save Our Fruit.

The Australian lady bird's efficiency as
destroyer of orange scale was the subject
of discussion by number OF gentlemen in
terested in the culture Of citrus fruits yes
terday in the State Board of Trades roums
on Market street.
After several had expressed their views
W. II. SOuther of Covina, Los Angeles
County, said:
THE introduction Of this parasite has
done a great deal Of good beyond any
doubt. but its appetite is limited TO only one
variety OF scale-the white scale, while
some OF our orange trees are afflicted by
eight known varieties of SCALE with several
others reported from different sections
whose Identity is not as yet fully estab-
lished. Now. at this rate, what are we to
do? Can we depend upon finding out
} the parasite that will destroy each separate
variety. or had we not great deal better
60 to work and destroy the entire lot at
once by the use of hydrocyanc acid gas
fumigatiOn? For my part | prefer the
latter remedy. have tested it fully on my
orange trees. and also on my decidu0us
fruit trees, and am thoroughly satisfied
with the result. as the gas, VIXEN intelli-
gently applied. kills every Insect Of every
description on the trees without injuring
the tender leaflet.
The operation is very simple and the ex-
pense trifling compared with the results,
and where several neighbOrs com bine it is
reduced to comparatively nothing. Now, /
go to work aIer August %, when farmers
have most time 10 spare, take five low farm
wagons, drawn by two horses each three
men and twenty tents, four tents on each
wagon, and drive through the orchard,
stopping at intervals and spreading the
tents over the trees. Under each tent i
place rough stool twenty inches high, and
on this an earthen vessel, into each of
which pour 81 ounces of suiphuric acid.
AZ ounces of water and 2R ounces OF
cyanide Of potassium, adding the cyanide
last, and Immediately covering the vessel
with piece of old sacking to stay the
heavy force OF the gas and pRvent scorch-
ing the tender leaves. The tents arc then
left over the trees for thirty minutes and
your bugs are dead. With that number of
wagons and men / disinfect 800 trees in IL
hours ana 80 minutes at cost of 10 cents a
tree, and as result / raise frst-cass fruit.
This work l always do at night with my
citrus trees, as fumigating them when the
sun shines is found to be detrimental, but,
with deciduous fruit trees 1t can be done by
day without injury.
Now. this / firmly believe Is our only
salvation from insect pests for all our fruit
trees, and i further believe that this State
must in short time furnish the bulk of the
fruit crop of the country, as from my own
observations oil the entire country east of the
Rockies the fruit there is doomed. and what
with the yellows. the blight ana the Goblin
moth the crop will soon be so reduced as to
meet only the local demand with none for
the general market The preservation Of
our fruit trees is therefore matter of vital
Importance to California"
Mr. SOuther is not only a fruit-grower but
has had some extended experience in irri-
eating on a large scale in Kern County,
where he designed the mammoth plow
used in canal work. and which he will send
to the Worlds Fair. This pillow cuts a
iurrow five feet wide and three feet deep is
drawn by forty yoke OF oxen, and tears It's
way through the soil regardless of stumps
and roots. any trees in its road having merely
10 be cut down and the logs hauled away,
thus obviating any necessity for grubbing