Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-17
the sAs JosE SCALE.
horticultural Powell Writes Of the Insect
Which Iuiures Fruit Trees.

which Injuries Fruit Trees.
The San Jose scale 10 an insect
whose rayages are the source Of alarm
to hurticulturists. II has been the
subject of three bulletins ISIS ued by
tho Delaware College Agricultural
Experiment Station at Newark. The
third of these bulletins is at hand.
1t was prepared by Horticulturist and
Entomologist q. Harold Powell and
treats Of ''The Increase OF the San
Joae Scale in Delaware During 1896. ="
In spite of the Investigations of
Division Of Entomology at Washing
ton, of the various experiment sta
tons, especially orr own, and Of the
abundant literature sent out from
these bureaus says Mr.. Powell, 1.-THE
San jose scale ia increaaing in Della
ware with such rapid strides as to
cause grave concern, ard it promises
to msltiply more rapidly in the future
unless strenuous individual aud legal
efforts are employed to keep it in con-
troll. A year ago it was supposed that
the infested trees in Delaware num-
bered not more than so; at present it
would be a conservative estimate to
place the number a. 1000 and there
scale was located in 10 places; now
the above estimate is based on in
tested trees found in but 10 Of these
localities. The three remaining
orchards have not been examined
nor has any attempt been made to
inspect tees where the scale might
have eluded observation.
do not write as an alarmist, "
SAYS he, "but cannot refrain from
pointing out the grave danger that
threatens Delaware fruit growers
should immediate steps not be taken
to bold this pest in check. I"
In the summary OF his paper, Mr..
Powell says:
The San Jose scale has increased in
the last year from about 80 infested
trees to LOCO or more at the present
time.
Tho cause of the increase is ex-
planned in a humber of ways; by the
rapid multiplication Of the insect: by
the Indifference Of some fruit.growers
to it; by the inefiicienoy In some cases
of washes used: by the impossibility OF
determining with defipiteness every
affected tree In an orchard; by the
absence of laws enforcing insecticidsl
or other methods Of eradication.
The scale ia to he feared because il
attacks our deciduous fruit trees, small
fruits and some shade trees. Its ap.
pearance Is easily overlooked and 1T Ia
difficult to exterminate by the ordinary
spraying materials; ID not only Injuries
the fruit but eventually kills the tree
it may be more widely spread In an
orchard than careful inspeotion reveals.
The San Jose scale is protected 10y a
hard scale or arnor; 1t Is sucking
insect; it is stationary after once be-
ginning to feed; it may be spread in
many ways. y@
Where ba1ly attacked, the affected
trees should be cut and burned.
Eradication then is positive. A solu-
tion of two and one-half pounds OF
whale oil soap in gallon of water APP
piled waru is efficient in killing the
scale, the efficiency depending entirely
Oh every scale receiving a covering Of
the solution.
III found on few trees In an orchard
it will be necessary to spray the entire
orchard.
1t is not probable that the scale can
be exterminated from the State by
spraying. 1t can be held in check,
however. f,4
Laws to enforce insecticidal work
and to prevent the introduction of in
tested stock into the State are needed
to supplement CO operative public
sentiment, which must always be the
power to enforce the laws and 10 keep
the trouble in check.
The infested orchards being 80 few
in number, the eradication of those
orchards by compensation to the owner
will undoubtedly be the most economi-
cal policy for the State to pursue at
the present time.