The herald., 1894-01-01
THE FIGHT AGAINST THE PESTS
A Years Results from the Work
of the Ladybirds.
alexander Craw Reviews the Grati-
flying Condition of Affairs.
Tho Plan of Fighting Scale Pe"'S with
Predacsous Insects Progressing sat
isfaotortly-Bright Forecast for
tho Coming Year.

In I1B uUIbiCQLbuiht WOtAN Va pAo SeNN~j
and particularly in Southern California,
over the subject OF the fighting OF scale
pests.
A HERALD representative Haw Mr..
Alexander Craw, quarantine ot1cer OF
the state board OF horticulture, day or
two since, and asked him about the
result of the YEARS work.
"In the main" he replied, "the war
against the scale pests and the enemies OF
the hortculturiet has left us with de-
cided vantage ground over last year.
The work OF the state board has been
largely directed toward the development
of parasitic enemies of the destructive
scale peats which have proved source
of such alarm to all fruit grow
ers, and particularly in some nections OF
the southern part of the state.
During the year there was no in
crea,e in the white scale, which seems
to have been effectually checked and
largely destroyed by the vedalia cardi-
nalie, the little ladybird, which was
imported from Australia. AS far as the
white scale is concerned that has be-
come past danger, owing to the lady
bird, which about wound up It's mis-
sion, although it began its labor before
| last year.
"lhe other gratifying circumstance in
| connection with the years develop
ments as to the Australian prsdaceous
insects, was the effective work done by
the rhizobius ventrslis, or black LADY
bird, upon the black scale.
They increased so maryelously upon
the orchards of MIR. Ellwood Cooper in
Santa Barbara county as to practically
clean them, and also to allow us to send
over 400 colonies of the beetles to
various sections of the etate troubled
with the black scale. We exnect, and
think we are justified in so doing, that
this active worker will to great extent
check the black scale and so far
towards destroying it, although not
exterminating it.
The rhzobius is also one ofthe para
cites sent over from Australia by Prof.
Kosbele, who has now become an
attache of the Hawaiian government to
search for scale enemies in Australia,
but who will also send US any new in
sect he discovers which will assist us in
our warfare against theEe pests.
"Ofmsnv other kinds ofinsecte sent by
Professor Koebee the record was not so
| EuOOs III ODiy OuO AAOAA " hGN-
ever cause it may be, did they develop
into valuable enemies of the scale. This
was in the Gaze OF the steel blue lady
bird which, under adverse circum-
stances, increased considerably and
preyed upon the red scale. 1t is too
slow a breeder to do as effective work as
the other lady birds but will aid in the
work. have no doubt, TO the extent OF
its ability.
"There have been very good resulta
also in the work OF quarantining against
injected stock that comes into the state.
The laws are much more effective in
enabling us to stamp out infested trees
than they have been in the past. AL
though there may be very good amend
ments still the working OF the laws has
been of splendid assistance to US "
Mr.. Craw would say but little with re-
gard to the une OF iumigating and other
apparatus to deatroy the fruit pests.
There has been great deal OF diecns-
| sion about this subject during the year,
and there has been considerable feeling
in regard to it. The feeling was partic-
ularly bitter in Los Angeles county.
In regard to all this Mr.. Craw was
dumb, but said lie hoped the future
would mitigate the troubles of fruit
growers in this respect. He should la
hor with all bis might to increase the
value OF the natural enemies OF the scale
pests, go as to do away as much as pos
sible with the use of spraying and other
artificial means in vogue.
In fact MIR. Craw ia very sanguine
about this method of controlling the
peste, and points with qualification to
the immense amounts OF money sayed by
q the predaceous insects in the state.
In regard to this ne said that the
a money saved to oSehardists by the vs-
dalia CARDINALS could not be estimated
\ in dollars and cents. 1t not only saved
immense amounts OF money, but also
stimulated fruit-growers with renewed
courage, and with belief that they will
be able in the future to accomplish just
as much against other pests By the use
, OF natures own weapons,
i In regard TO the outlook for the year
= to the horticultural Mr.. Craw thought
q it was bright. He had observed with
: qualification greater unity OF purpose
I and harmony OF action in meeting all
y these questions than ever before, This
q was particularly noticeable. hs thought,
in the state convention recently held IL
~ Los Angeles.
i He could not blame the indivdns
v grower for his reluctance to use the ex
1t pensive washes, sprays and fumigatine
d apparatus in use, and with the hons
B. that such expense would be lessensd /
v not entirely done away with, he believes
q that there will be still greater unity.
IS One OF the most astonishing incident
il of the year was the death bv the MD
N lions of red ecale upon trees IA 'h'
10 vicinity OF Los Angeles. The cacse c
Ell tins determination had not yet bseI
OF satisfactorily established. 1t WAS 10
IA lieved to have resulted from 81 hsnst.
lr growth which had bean sen. franz :
tralia by Professor Koe5ele, bul li.'
d had not yet been patisiscturiiv es's1
No lished. Whatever the cause the ir'
4. scala had practically disappeared ffan
"a thousands OF trees i'll and arc md ~
Angeles, much to the dellght ofcl:sfa
q. ists.
i. Upon a whole review oil The year, "a
Craw concluded his interview by r-
iterating that he thought the outlook
=, very cheerful one In respect Ia the 50 7
;s pests. and tia, the record al vaafrbs 4,
10 complished during the past year. wi
sd one that Vas pleasant to bin a1i y
~ who had worked 80 hard n ,ro. q. q,
-; interests Of the horticuisuri-'.
to
ia M. ]. Bundy OF Tastin, ORANGE conpl,
.~ -.