Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-01-08

been faithfully carried out. a Dor'
tiOn of the two-year-old stock, IN
which were found symptoms Of fungus,
, I requested thrown out and burned,
which was largely done. This being
the first year that we have given full
attention to nurseries, some Of our
nurserymen had never heard Of
the gas treatment, and many were the
questions asked in regard to II. In
view Of this enquiry the following
facts have been collected by me from
various authentic sources;
Hydrocyanic acid gas was originally
discovered, or at least applied to FUN
igatlng purposes, in 1886, by Prof. d..
w. Coquillett, government agent,
while experimenting In California, for
the determination OF scale insects. 1t
is now used there'very extensively for
this purpose; the method being TO
cover the infested tree by means of "A
canvass tent, introducing the gas
underneath. The gas Is the result of
chemical action by mixing cyanide Of
potassium, sulphuric acid and water,
in proportions laid down In various
published formulas. Hydrocyanic
acid gas is poisonous when inhaled in
quantities. Still while this Is a fact
and IL Is well to know them, the ex-
perlence OF several y9ars in handling
this gas through the country, has
terminated in few, II any, accidents,
any more than the hauling of Paris
green, or London purple, which are
each deadly polsons, but their use
seldom results I'm accident. The hy-
drocyanic acid gas is a little lighter
than air, consequently IL will rise In a
fumigator, and is very penetrating in
its nature; IL Is equally deadly TO the
insect life of eggs; killing insects by
direct contact, and where eggs are
found, by penetrating the egg, cover
ing, and poisoning the forming en-
bryo within. IL is not infamable
gas, nor will IL ignite or explode.
witnessed gas fumigatlon where
woody aphis were treated. After a
half an hour had elapsed, our close
examination failed TO find single
live aphls.
There is phase connected with the
inspection of nurseries and the treat
ment OF stock, which should very
largely interest hop men. The hop
lice in the fall of the year, leave the
hop yards In the wing state, lay
lay their eggs for the further
Of the species on the plum
and especially on plum stock in the
nursery rows. The following spring
these eggs hatch, and In due time the
lice find their way back To the hop
fields, Now II these eggs are killed
by fumigation when the nursery stock
is dug, II will certainly destroy a very
large percentage of hop lice.
The nurserymen OF this district are
principally located in the vicitlty of
WoOdburn, Salem, Albany and Tan
gent. The principal stocks carried
wherever | have been, are apples,
pears, prunes and cherries; peaches
being rather neglected.
There is no risk whatever, after the
experiments which have been con-
Quoted during the past few years, by
our agricultural department, at Wash
ingtou, in saying that IL properly
treated with the various spraying
remedies recommended, from the
time nursery stock is budded To the
date OF marketing same. Most, IL not
all OF the known diseases and pests, in
this climate, can be prevented, and
that at very moderate cost. These
facts have been well published, and
Iiext fall should see our nurseries clean
and acceptable; where this is not the
case there can be no excuse.
CHAs. L. DALEY,
Commissioner
Diversified farming is proving a
blessing even 10 the great cotton belt