Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-07-11
SAN JOSE SCALE.
A Dangerous Orchard Pest in the Rio
Grande Valley-PrOf. COckerell
Talks of Its Eradication.

To the Editor of the New Mexican.
+ Santa Fe, July S.-Until last week, ha
supposed that the San Jose scale was, il
New Mexico, confined to the Mesilla val
ley. But having now found it at Socorr
and Bernalillo, l am anxious to dra,
fresh attention to its dangerous character
in order to induce orchardists to TAX
, proper measures for its destruction.
WHAT THE SCALE IS.
} A tree affected by San Jose seals usual
ly presents characteristic appearance
many of the twigs and branches will bt
dead, while there are numerous new bu
sickly looking shoots. A tree dying from
want of water, injury to the roots, OF
what not, will be similarly affected ali
over; but one affected by scale will
usually die in parts, other parts remain
ing green. In fact it is by the death OF
the affected branches that the tree tries
to rid itself of the scale, for as the
branches die so must the scales on them;
while new branches will for while at
least often be free from the pest.
When a tree thus attacked is closely
examined, the branches and twigs will be
seen to present scurfy appearance. If
the scales are still alive, rubbing with the
finger-nail will crush them, giving rise to
an orange -colored juice. Frequently the
scales are 80 numerous rs to entirely
cover some of the branches.
Each ecale is about as large as pins
head. 1t is gray, but under it is the soft
orange-colored insect, like An oyster in
its shell. This creature sucks the sap of
the tree, consuming the nourishment that
should 60 into leaves, flowers and fruit.
THE SCALE AT socoRRo AND BERNALILLo.
The scale at Socorro, so far as we
know, is confined to a few trees in the
town, and was brought there directly
from California, where it is abundant.
These trees will be cut down and Socorro
will, for the present, be saved from any
danger in regard to the matter. At Ber.
nalillo, the condition of things is much
less satisfactory. The residents were, as
at Socorro, totally unaware of the pres
ence of the scale, though they had OBJ
served the condition of the trees. Taking
the road northward, on arriving at Ber-
nalillo, saw peach tree not far from
Mr.. Perea's residence, presenting the
characteristic appearance of one attacked
by scale. Climbing through the fence, l
found that it was indeed scaly, as also
was another tree close by. Not many of
the scales were alive, most being on the
dead branches. Later on I found the
scale here and there in the Brothers or
chard, on apple, peach and cherry. 1t is
pretty evident that the scale has been
some time in Bernalillo, and it will be
quite difficult to exterminate it. should,
indeed, despair of getting anything done,
but for tho fact that we have in Brother
Gabriel, of Bernalillo, man fully able to
appreciate the situation; willing to do all
that is necessary and to urge his neigh,
bors to do likewise.
HOW THE SCALE SPREADS.
The scale has reached New Mexico on
trees imported from California; Until
recently it was absent from the eastern
localities, directly or indirectly through
the introduction of infested trees from
California. very few scales on tree
will suffice to start fourishing colony;
and as the scale multiplies very quickly,
it rapidly covers tree. 1t can migrate
from tree to tree, however, only when it
is very young; and then only by being
blown by the wind, or carried in some
way, as on ants or on birds feet. The.
adult or half-grown scales can not move;
except the males, which finally assume a
pair of wings. OF course, the winged
males, carrying no eggs or young, can not
be the cause of the spread of the scale. It
happens from these circumstances, that
one tree will often be badly infested,
while those close TO it are quite free, ow-
ing to the young scales SO far failing to
reach thom.
WHAT TO DO.
If were the owner Of all the New Mex
ican orchards, would certainly cut down
and utterly destroy all infested trees.
With few exceptions, they are already so
much injured as to be practically worth
less. At Socorro the destruction of the
trees was advised, and the advise followed;
but at Bernalillo, as at Las Cruces, such
advice must be qualified by the statement
that it is not desirable unless everyone
having scale will follow it. When you
have number of scaly orchards, close
together, it is a hopeless business for one
or two persons to try to eradicate the
scale by destroying their trees, If their
neighbors utterly refuse to do anything.
The scale will only come again from over
the wall. At Las Cruces it has appeared
so far impossible to get the desired uni
formity of action; at BernalilloI can only
hope that Brother Gabriel will find It
different.
Failing such radical measures, thorough
spraying is very desirable, and may even
be perfectly successful. If the trees are
not very numerous, they may also be
scrubbed. Experiments in the east have
shown that whale oil soap, two pounds to
gallon of water, Is very effectual
spray. In the winter, when the trees are
dormant, strong potash sprays are recon-
mended-one pound of caustic potash to
about FIVE quarts of water. / have some
doubts as to the advisability of using this
latter mixture 80 strong in this climate,
on the trees, owing to the less frequent
rains. Strong kerosene emulsion can
also be used, and has proved very efficient
in an orchard at Las Cruces.
It should be added that trees from Cali
fornia need very careful examination be-
fore being planted, since they are es-
pecially liable to be infested with this
scale. Yours very truly,
I. D. A. CooKERELL,
Entomologist N. NJ. Agri. EXP. Station.
Injured being Well.