The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1894-11-23
PESTS AND THEIR RAVAGES.
Fruit-Growers Talk of Vedaia and
Rhizobius.
Discussions on Irrigation and Root
knot-Report of the Trans
portation Committee.


curing prunes. which commenced the
previous afternoon.
James e. Gordon of Santa Clara took
ground in opposition to the pricking pro-
cess. claiming that the pricked prunes all
ferment, and that by the lye-dipping pro-
cess very little fermentation is set up.
lie enumerated number of objections
he had found to the use of pricl1ing.
Mr.. Wilson defended the priclling pro-
cess as the most cleanly. The statements
of Mr. Gordon controverted all his ex-
perience, he said, in prune-curing.
Mr.. Dodge of Anderson said that a
neighbor OF his used the pricking pro-
cess and had twenty "frogs" TO one that
he had through the I've process. He was
not favorably impressed with the prick
ing machine.
INSECT PESTS.
B. M. Lelong read paper by Professor
a. j. Cook on the subject of Insect
Pests" He spoke OF the benefits already
derived by this State from the introduce
ton of the Vedalia, and paid tribute TO
Elwood Cooper and others for their per-
slstence against dlscouragements and
final success in the introduction of the
lady birds and the destruction of the
scale. Massachusetts might have with
great advantage to herself have taken
pattern by young California and saved
herself many thousands of dollars.
Michigan was, several years ago, attacked
by insect pests and for "a time the destruc-
ton of its forests was threatened, and
few years afterward those of Indiana and
Illinois were threatened. Suddenly fly
appeared and attacking them, swept
them from the trees.
The wheat crop was also attacked by
aphides, and 1t seemed as il nothing
could save it from destruction, but a fly
appeared in myriads and about one-third
OF The crop was saved. The Introduction
of predacious insects is far preferable to
spraying and less expensive.
He suggested that MIR. koebele be Sc
cured for series of years to look out for
insect pests and the expense would be
mere bagatele to the benefit which Will
result. Alexander Craw has also done
excellent work.
PROFESSOR SHOWS PAPER.
Mr.. Lelong also read a paper by Pro-
lessor L. \. Snow OF Santa Barbara upon
the same subject. The paper contained a
compendium OF all that Is known OF in
sect pests, from the swarm OF flies that
afflicted Pharoah and his hosts down to
the present. He described the eXpedi-
ton that in 1869 went to Australia TO OBJ
serve the transit of Venus and which,
landing on its shores, found a paradise
containing many hitherto unknown
plants and flowers. The expedition
brought home to England a splendid
assortment of plants and flowers.
Up TO that time there had been little
complaint of insect pests, but few years
after complaints were loud and deep all
over Europe. Ii may be safely assumed,
then, that Australia is the original home
of the insects.
The paper gave an account of the dis
.lal5
enemy to the scale. 1t and the Rhizobia
were brought to this State anu the result
Is that in place of frult-groWerS having 10
spend thousands OF dollars in spraying
and tumigatiug, the lady birds have done
the work for them at little or no cost, and
in place OF dead and dying orchards are
now thrifty orchards, free or nearly SO
from scale. In many localities the scale
having disappeared, the lady birds have
also gone TO seek fresh pastures on which
TO exist. The scale increase by millions,
but the ladybi increase in proportion,
and as they feed on the young scales they
soon eNterminate them.
Mr.. koebele was sent to Australia the
first time at an expense of $500. He
made d second trip. but the whole eX-
pense has not been more than many in
dividual fruit-groWers have spent Tor
spraying. Massachusetts eX pended $780,
600 TO get rid of single insect pest.
In spite OF the good work done by Mr..
hoebele. a jealousy sprang up, and, the
writer claimed. some sharp practice re-
suited in inducing the last Legislature to
withhold the necessary appropriation for
the continuation OF his work, and the
consequences had been u retrogression.
lie hoped that the next Legislature
would remedy the evil.
DIR. M'INTYRE's PAPER.
A third paper on the same subject by
j. f. Mcintyre was also read by Mr..
Lelong.
1t stated that the growers suffered for
some time from pests, until some bright
genius discovered that an insect pest was
simply an insect that had become sepa-
rated by some means from it's natural
enemies and been imported into the
country on some tree or plant, while its
enemy had been left behind. The next
step was TO find the enemy and bring it
to this country to combat the pest.
Alter the reading of the paper Mr..
Block said he did not like some of the
language in Mr.. Shows paper, and he
suggested that it be stricken out. He
did not think it proper that the opinions
OF a writer should be promulgated in
this convention.
Sprague moved that the paper be re-
turned to the writer, with the request
that he strike out all censorious and IT.
relevant matter, and the motion was
carried.
ALEXANDER CRAw's PAPER
Another paper, by Alexander Craw, fol-
lowed upon the same subject. Mr.. Lee
longs sonorous voice was once more fill
ing the chamber, apparently unimpaired
10y fatigue. IL was devoted to history OF
the efforts of growers to eradicate the
scale, and said that, although spraying
and iumigation would not be abandoned,
they were more ana more depending on
the work of the lady birds. California
was the first to take up the work Of inn
porting them to fight the scale, and the
rest OF the world Is protiting by her ex-
perience. Massachusetts expended over
500, 900 in three years to get rid of pest,
and then did not succeed.
A minute lady bird had lately been dis
covered in Los Angeles preying on the
rod spider, andi il is 10 be hoped it will
SO increase that the pest may soon be
among the things of the past. Directions
are given by the writer Tor the successful
collection and transmission of the para
sites from one locality to another.
ROOT KNOT.
W. e. Smith OF Napa read paper on
"Root Knot" lie stated that his orchard
Was badly affected with root knot. and he
was told TO cut OIL the knots. he found
that the knot had a root often running up
iulo the tree, and were hard to remove.
He belhought himself that some sub
stance might be able TO Kill the diseased
wood and prevent further spread. lie
tried sulphuric and carbollc acid, with
several other chemicals known TO horti-
culturlsts. He bored into the core OF the
knot and poured in the fluid, covering II
up and putting back the earth. lie
placed tags on the trees, indicating what
chemical had been used III the case. The
N no