The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-21
SAN JOSE SCALE.
Prof. Otto Lugger's Warning Words
About 1t.

Prof. Otto Lugger, of the State AGri-
cultural college, says what is known
as the San Jose scale is as much to be
dreaded almost, as the grasshopper
and certainly more than the chinch bug
The San Jose scale is a deadly foe to all
manner Of fruit trees, and If it were
introduced into this state the extent
Of the damage cannot well be estimated,
for, though very tiny as an individual,
taken in the aggregate 1t becomes Of
vast devastating power. "
Fifteen states have already taken
legislative action looking to an eradica-
ton, or a prevention of the pest 1t is
almost impossible to prevent it's spread
when once it has gained foothold. It
was first found, the professor explained,
in California, whence it takes it's name
of San Jose. 1t was carried in fruit or
on shrubs of some kind to New Jersey,
where 1t has already done much harm
1t was not known in California until
about eight years ago, and no one
knows where it came from before it
reached that land Of fruits.
This scale is not fungus growth, but
live animal, male and female capable
of vast reproduction. and one scale
may be, as Prof. Lugger explains,
daughter, a MOTHER a. grandmother
and a great grandmothersin one season.
1t derives it's name scale from it's ap-
a sixteenth of an inch in diameter, and
shaped with a crest or covering which
makes it look like a scale. Sometimes
they are Of dull gray in color, some
times darker in hue. They have very
busineSs-like way of going about things,
and when they have finished up tree
there isn't much left but the skeleton
They may be carried from one tree
to another by birds, who get the scales
on their feet or legs or on their bills
Sometimes they are carried by ants
and if the trees are close together, they
will pass from one to the other of their
own accord. The scale sa ps the life Of
the tree, completely destroying it. and
rendering it unfit for anything but the
brush pile. 1t has jointed beak which
passes down into the wood and takes
up the sap.
Not only do they infest the trunks
and branches of the trees, but they are
found on the leaves and fruit as well.
When they are abundant on the fruit
it is destroyed or rendered worthless,
though the fruit appears sometimes
| with only purple discoloration around
a single scale. They do not usually
begin active operations until early in
June, and they pass the winter in a
practically dormant condition. Apple,
pear, plum and cherry trees are the
| quickest to be attacked, but other fruit
IAtCO, Cul SOOoSUSlIlSS dllo lOSS
bushes are sought for when the supply
| of fruit trees gives out.
There are several insecticides recon-
mended, but SO destructive Is the pest,
the best way of getting along with
| them, in Professor Lugger's opinion,
| is not to have them at all. To this end
he would have a law. and he has al
ready prepared one now in the legiS-
| lature for consideration, providing that
no nursery stock afflicted with the San
| Jose scale shall be allowed to come into
or be sold in the state, and requiring
| certificates of inspection from sellers
| of nursery stock showing that their
| nurseries have been inspected and are
| free from the pest A few days ago
Professor Lugger attended a meeting
| of entomologists attached to the var
| iOus Western agricultural colleges held
| in Chicago, where the San Jose pest
was considered in detail, and certain
action sought for that 1t be kept from
| spreading further. Since it reached
New Jersey it has passed on to other
| states, and is now doing great damage
| in state as far West as Illinois.
The Ohio State Horticultural society,
realizing the danger from the spread
of this pest and others allied to it, has
called a general meeting Of the horti-
cultural societies Of the United States
to assemble in general conference in
Washington on the fifth of next month
to consider means-natiOnal as we'll
as state in their scope-to prevent
the further spread of these pests.
Agricultural societies and experiment
stations are expected to be represented
as we'll, and probably Professor Lugger
Will go as a representative of this state.
National and supplementary uniform
state legislation is to be asked for,
not only to prevent the spread of all
such pests in the United States, but
to prevent their introduction into this
country from foreign lands.
Professor Lugger~ is insistent on the
necessity of action being taken by. the
present Legislature in order that the
pest which has been slowly working
this way, may be kept out Of Mime
sofa. It's introduction here, he says,
would result in immense loss to the
state.