Evening journal., 1896-04-06
stamn Ont tho scale.

permit their fears to run away with
Sheir discretion. but Professor M H
Bsckwith, Of the Delaware College Agri
cultural Experimental Station, has never
made n record as an elarmist, coDss
quently he enjoys the confidence OF the
horticulturiHts If this state who have 80
many thousands Of dollars invested In
fruit bearing trees and plants He has
Just issued a bulletin on the San Jose
scale. one Of the most destructive insects
known to fruit growers Of the present
day.
This Insect multlplies with exceeding
rapldity, and It's attack usually culmi-
mates In the destruction Of the tree II
feeds upon the bark Of the trunk and
limbs and also upon the leaves ana
fruit, thereby rendering It's destructive
Effectiveness four fold
It derives it's name from Che fact that
IL was irst discovered at San Jose, Cal.
IN 1878. Eleven years later it had spread
over the fruit.growing districts Of that
state. found its way into Oregon and
Washington, and then began It's eastward
march OF destruction, finally reaching
Delaware
ln discussing the present status OF the
scale In our state, Professor Beokwlth
states that be aud his assistants have
inspected 1i5 orchards aud found that
'the scale was FIRST introduced into two
widely separated loc,lltles In this state,
on crab apple and plum trees" Up TO
the present time the insects seem TO have
contsnted themselves with continuing
their attacks upon the original trees
upon which they we're brought into the
state, but in two Instances they were
discovered upon several surrounding
trees. He warns the farmers that this
should not allay their fears concerning
the future spread OF the scale, and
advises them 60 take every precaution to
stamp out the destructive little insect.
Regarding the cause OF the failure Of
the scale 20 attack the surrounding trees,
he expresses the belief that It is mainly
due to the fact that the infested trees
were small when brought here and
planted aud there we're few sceles Oh
them. They have now attained some
size. Their limbs meet and mlngie With
those Of other trees, and the number OF
insects increases constantly with the
growth Of the tree. They may crawl
from ono tree to another; be blown BY
the wind, or carried by birds and other
insects, until there Is no telling how far.
reaching the trouble may become.
Infested trees have been found st New
CASTLE, FELTON,, Newark, Blackbird,
Wyoming, Carrcroft, Grubb's Landing,
Brldgeville. State Road, Port Penn, in
this state, and at Ohestertown, Md.
We believe that prudence will impel
the fruIt-growers TO follow the advice Of
Professor Bsckwith In the matter He
suggests three remedies which will prove
etiectual as destructive agents, but
frankly admits that the cost Of the
ingredients is so great that It will be as
cheap TO uproot the trees infested aud
burn them. To prevent the further
introduction of the insect he says that
all trees Hereafter purchaaod should bs
carefully inspected by some competent
person before being planted
srhe Peninsular fruit.interests are too
important to be trihed with, and the
sooner the growers make up their minds
to meet aud destroy this minute but
powerful insect the better It will be for
everyone. We have had an experience
with peach yellows which should be a
salutaryl lesson to the effect that pro
crsstnation IS as disastrous in hortl
culture as in every taing else