Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-03-28

worst insect pests OF fruit trees have
been introduced into new localities
and distributed with nursery stock.
Many of them have been introduced
in this manner from foreign countries
and have been 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 as
best we can by means of spraying,
etc., in order to prevent their destruc-
tive ravages. There are other new
pests, however, which are even more
destructive than anything We now
have, which are liable to be introduced
with nursery stock from eastern and
other nurseries, owned by persons who
are not familiar with the serious char
acter of the pests, or do not take the
necessary precautions.
There are at least three eastern
fruit tree pests which are especially
destructive and have not as yet been
reported from West Virginia, and
which are liable to be introduced into
the State during the coming season,
and should be guarded against by ev-
cry possible means; these are the San
Jose Scale, the Pear Tree Pyslla and
the Flat-headed Pear borer.
The San Jose Scale, recently intro
duced from California and distributed
by certain New Jersey nurseries, is a
minute, bark louise or scale, scarcely
visible to the unaided eye, which,
when established in locality, occurs
in countless millions on the twigs,
branches and trunk 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 Pyslla, destructive
insect to pear trees in New York, New
Jersey and Maryland, is a minute,
jumping louise, which collects around
the base of leaves and buds, its pres
ence being indicated by the blemished
appearance of the twigs and by the
honeydew with which the leaves are
coated.
The Flat-headed Pear. borer, recent
ly discovered in New Jersey and rec
ognized as foreign pest, which has
been introduced into this country with
nursery stock, is slender, fatteGed,
white grub, one to one and one-half
inches long, which bores beneath the
bark of living trees, and is thus very
destructive to the trees infested by it.
The way to prevent the introduce
ton Of these pests into our State is to
patronize none but perfectly reliable
and responsible nurserymen, who will
guarantee their stock free from the
pests mentioned. Beware Of unrelia-
BILE fruit tree agents. Patronize, as
far as possible or practicable, home or
nearby nurseries. Keep sharp look
out for anything that resembles pest,
and, if one is detected, send specimen
of the insect and its work at once to
the Experiment Station at Morgan
town for Identification. If it should
prove to be dangerous enemy, every
possible assistance will be extended by
the Station to aid in its suppression
or determination.
A. D. HOPKINS,
Entomologist of W. Va. Elk. St'n.
Morgantown, w. Va, Mar. II, '95.
"Howdy, Major | want you to
answer a question, just to decide a
little bet, you know. Now, sir, be so
kind as to pay particular attention,
and think before you speak. Did it
rain this morning ?"