The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-20

the San Jose scale some years since at
the source of its origin, in Santa Clara val
ley, California. The wholesale destruction
of the trees as cited above, has never been
found necessary in California, unless IL
was an abandoned orchard, or when the
owner made no effort to free II from pests
then the authorities destroyed all infected
trees and sometimes whole orchards. AS
rule, but few trees are attacked at first in
an orchard. and these only on few limbs.
but if undsturbed they rapidly spread the
second year. tree will be fatally injured
in two or three years. The San Jose scale
insect does not attack citrus trees in Cali
fornia, but gets In its work on the apple.
pear, plum and cherry trees principally.
This scale insect is yellow in color and ex-
ceedingly small. requiring magnifying
glass to see it. and can be seen during the
summer crawling about on the bark of an
infected limb. Go carefully through your
orchard late in the fall or early winter; If
you see a limb which has not properly cast
its leaves. shows red blotches on the bark.
and appears to be fy-specked, you have
found the San Jose scale. The scale or lit
tie round fly speck marks are dark in color
and are easily seen with the naked eye;
lney are the winter homes OF the insects
and eggs Unless ii is far more destructive
here than in California it is not neces-
sary that the orchard be destroyed, or even
tree, but it is necessary, after they appear
III an orchard, that all the apple pear plum
and cherry trees be sprayed once year,
thoroughly Wetting the surface of the bark
etration of the wash beneath the scale, and
thus to kill the old scale insect or the eggs
and young hidden beneath. Badly infected
limbs may be cut off and burned. With a
good spray pump and a barrel. rugged up Oh
a sled or low wagon. with fifty feet OF
three-quarter-inch garden hose and a nozzle
that will throw a good spray to the tops
of the trees, the work can be thoroughly
and rapidly done. 1t is necessary to spray
the tree from different directions in order
to wet all sides of the twigs and limbs.
The spraying must be done the latter part
of the winter but before the buds begin
to swell, and never when the trees are in
= a
would kill the tree. Mild weather the lat
ter part of March, would probably be about
II right time fer Il is climat-.
The following is the favOrite mixtures for
the San Jose scale in California, and it will
do the work If made carefully: Lime, salt
and sulphur mixture. This wash is useful
beth an inSecticide and fumicide, but
only for winter use on delicious trees 1t
is usually made by boiling the sulphur for
one hour and a half or two hours (until all
the sulphur IS dissolved) with about one
fourth of the lime, in covered kettle, with
enough water to cover well; then the rest
of the lime and salt are added, and the boil
ing continued for half an hour longer. The
proportions are about six pounds of lime,
two of salt and three of sulphur for ten
gallons. For forty gallons use twenty-six
pounds of lime, ten pounds of salt and thir-
teen pounds of sulphur A California or
chardist of large experience. in a recent
letter to the writer, says: 1.-The lime, salt
and sulphur remedy l regard the best
and easiest handled. 1t is a dead shot If
made right; no bug escapes that it touches"
Spraying with this mixture gives the trees
the app aarance Of having be n witt washed,
but it will disappear and leave them in fine
condition. j. b. PENCE.
CraWfor1SVille Ind. Dec. IS.