The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-05
TO FRUIT GROWERS.
Advice by Mr.. Cas- Of the state Board
of Horticulture.


of Horticulture.
gkarit CITY. June I, 1896.
To the Editor. The state hoard of nor
tfcults1re IN its work Of disseminating IN
formation pertaining 10 horticulture ana
its kindred industries would md most
valuable aid ira the columns or your Jour
nal. widely circulated as II IS. especially
in the counties Of this third district OF our
board and with your permission / pro
pose TO send you from time 20 time few
notes of interest 10 the fruit growers the
work OF the hoard IL more legitinately IN
the way OF disseminating information re-
lating 10 the horticultural interest ana IN
this line IL seems necessary TO give line
upon line and precept upon pTecept-
The Destruction of Insect and Fungus
Pests.
Since the organization Of the state board
every effort has been made 10 emphasize
the necessity of spraying 20 guard against
insect and fungus pests: and to this END
thousands Of bulletins and our state re-
ports have been placed in the hands OF
those most interested. containing all In
formation. and every principal locality in
each county OF the state has been visited
by the inspector of the district. meeting
the fruit growers personally 10 a great eN-
tent II has been pointed out that the III
ferent fruit pests prevalent IN our state
are easily held In check or extirpafed AZ
practlce Of spraying with the proper FORM
ulas at the proper time is not as common
as IL should be- and loud complaints are
often made as 10 the prevalence OF insect
pests In certain sections, az II nature or
the state board. or some other authoTltE
was largely responsible. Many are VIII
ing to blame the adjoining neighbors Tor
the visitation Of these pests 10 their own
orchards The fact Is these noXious IN
ssrt and fungus pests are almost uniVeF-
sally present in some of their forms IN
every locality, and the man who cares 10
grow good fruit nowadays must use me
spray pump and the successful oTchardist
has no fear OF their ravages. II certainly
Is no part Of the legitimate work OF the
state board TO 90 further than the dfssem-
mating Of all needful information. ana In
the most fragrant instances 10 compel the
enforcement Of the Law relating To the
holding in chee.. the spread OF these
pests.
The Money Expended.
The appropriation made by the last leg
tslature for the use OF the state board, II
IL intended shall Ice expended as near as
may be in the interests OF each district
and county of the state pro rata. Thus
In this district Of six counties. the amount
To ne expended In the work (of inspection.
mileage etc, and all the work. by the
commissioner is some $500 per annum. that
being the sum available TO each district OF
the state over and above the necessary
expenses connected with the secretary
and his Office at Tacoma. or some SO Tor
the work in each county Hence. IL viii
he seen that the work in the way OF In
specting the thousands OF orchards in each
country must be somewhat limited, ana
the professional officeseeker who fails in
getting the position Of deputy inspector
and who publicly proclaims that the work
l. IL ton Na1tt
not suffer very much loss by such failure,
and might rest his soul In peace.
Caterpillars.
Many complaints are being made in
Whatcom county. and also In Skagit coun-
~. OF the ravages by the spread Of this
insect and in the region OF the Lummi
Indian reservation near Ferndale this has
become a serious pest, as | noted In the
last state report. As IL has it's breed
ing ground I'm large wild crab apple thick
cts principally upon the reservation, lit
Tie can be done In the way of cxtirpating
this insect there. Orchards. however. are
easily and cheapiy protected by wrapping
the trunk OF the trees with narrow band
OF burlap smeared with axle grease, and
the addition OF paris green at the rate OF
one pound 10 200 gallons OF water OF the
solution 10 the Bordeaux mixture or other
leaf-spraying compound. will effectually
preserve the trees from the attacks of
these or other defeating insects. at n
cost OF less than cent per tree. Those
whose fruit trees are denuded OF foliage
by these insects should blame but them
selves.
The Aphis.
The habits OF the aphls or lice so com
monty infesting fruit trees in all sections
are such that spraying thoroughly in win
ter with strong solution as the salt. sui
phur and lime. by destroying their eggs
will insure a comparatively clean orchard
during the season: and II the winter spray
ing has been neglected little can be done
during the summer except keeping them
In check 10 some extent by the use OF the
kerosene emulsion or quassa chips solu-
ton
The Maple Scale.
rnfestIng eurrant and gooseberry bushes
now to a great extent. is easily known by
its scales. about one-oighth OF an inch I'm
diameter. adhering 10 the surface of the
bark I'm the winter season succeeded in
MAY and June by the shoots being covered
with small cottony tufts cnVcloping tho in
sects It. too, must be cxterminatcd by
the use OF a strong winter solution.
the usa Of strong winter solution. \ va
riety Of aphis or mite infestinE the under
side Of the leaves OF the currant. giving a
reddish or brown appearance 20 their up
per surfaces. IS also getting common. \
winter wash must also be used to eNtcr-
inmate them. as they are hard 10 reach by
simer spraying bushes infested with
these insects will DO Of little use TO their
owners until same are dlSiufeCted.
J =. CASS.
Commissioner state Board OF Horticul-