Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-03-21
Warming to Purchasers Of Fruit Trees.

Warming to Purchasers Of Fruit Trees.
EditOr GrCepbrjcr independent:
Some Of the worst insect pests of
fruit trees have been introduced into
new localities aud distributed with
nursery stock. Many of them have
been introduced in this manner from
foreign countries, and have become
SO destructive that they have, during
the past year or two, almost ruined
the fruit industry in some localities
in the Northern and Eastern States.
Some serious pests have already
been introduced into West Virginia,
and have established themselves In
our orchards. These we must fight
rs best we can by means of spraying,
etc, in order to prevent their de-
structiNe ravagcs. There are other
new pests, however, which arc even
more destructive than anything we
now have, which are liable to be in
PRODUCED with nursery stock from
| Eastern and other nurseries owned
by persons who are not familiar with
the serious character of the pests, or
ito not take the necessary precau-
| tiOnS.
There are at least three Eastern
fruit tree pests which are especially
destructive, which have not as vet
been reported frcm West Virginia,
which are liable to be introduced
into the State during the coming sea-
son, and should be guarded against
by every possible means. They are
the San Jose Scale, the Pear Tree
Psylla and the Flat headed Pear.
bOrer.
The San Jose Scale, recently intro
duccd from California and distrib.
uted by certain New Jersey nurs-
cries, is a minute bark louise or scale,
scarcely visible to the unaided eve,
which, when established in a locality
= multiply into countless millions on
the twigs, branches and trunks of all
kinds of fruit trees, forming waXy,
grayish coating on the surface of the
bark. The trees thus infested soon
become sickly, and finally die.
The Pear Tree Psylla, q destruc.
tive insect to pear trees in New York,
New Jersey and Maryland, is mi,
: mute jumping louise, which collects
around the base Of leaves and buds
its presence being indicated by the
! blackened appearance of the twigs
and by the h0ney-dew with which
the leaves are coated.
The Flat-headed Pear-borer, re.
Gently discovered in New Jersey and
recognized as foreign pest which
has been introduced into this country
with nursery stock, is slender, flat.
tened, white grub, and is one and
9 0ne-halt' inches long. 1t bores be.
Meath the bark of living trees, and
is thus very destructive to the trees
infested by il.
The way to prevent the introduc
ton of these pests into our State is
t" p"tronize none but perfectly relia
: ble and responsible nurserymen, VIII,
Viii guarantee their stock free from
the pests mentioned. Berdre of I'm
retI0bte .fruH tree agents. PatroniZ,
as far as possible or practicable home
or nearby nurseries, keep a sharI
lookout for anything that resemble
a'pest, and if one is detG cted, sen(
specimens of the insect and its worl
at once to the Experiment Station a
=, Morgantown, for identification.
, 1t should prove to he dangerou
, enemy every possible assistance will
, be extended by the Station to aid il
its suppression or determination.
= a. ID. HOPKINS,
, EntomolOgist of w. Va. Expert
mental Station, Morgantown
w IN