Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-09-16
THE SAN JOSE SCALE.


Catalogue OF Information Issued 10y state
Inspector Is. 81. Bancroft.
Il. II. Bancroft, State Agricultural
Inspector, has issued ths following
catalogue Of Indignation concerning
the San Jose Scale, which has been
giving Delaware farmers so much
trouble:
The San Jose Scale il the most dan
geroua aud most destructive insect that
ever invaded Delaware. 1t is of recent
introduction and has been found in
only few plRCeH in the State. 1t is
not known that it was ever eradicated
by treatment, Hence thu only safe way
is to destoEy all trees on which it is
found.
The Delaware Legislature has pro
vided for the hunting out of this Hcale
in tho State. An inspector has been
appointed whoss duty it is "tn inspect
any nursery, orchard or orchards in
this State in which the insect known
Us tho San Jose Srale is known or is
believed to oxist'' The inspection up
to this time shows that tho scale exists
in some 10 or IL places. In some OF
these 100 or more trees are infested, in
others only fGw, but in all cases there
is danger that the scale may spread to
surrounding orchards. In at least one
or two cases tho scale has heen eSter-
minated by the destruction OF all the
infested trees. and 10 others the work
uf exteTInination is now in progress.
Every owner OF infested trees is face to
face with most serious state Of affairs.
This scale was introduced into Call
fornia some 20 years ago. As soon as
its nature was discovered prompt and
vigorous measures were taken to de-
etroy ii, and in large measure 1T is
now under control In that State, but
only afrer many valuable orchards were
destroyed and many thousands OF dol
lars were spent in finding ami applying
remedies.
The remedies that are effective in
California are failure here. We must
discover new remedies. Spraying with
whale oil soap is etfeUtive in keeping it
in chack. but the most thorough spray
ing with whale oil soap has not yet
succeeded in eHtarmipatinG 1T 10 any
place in this State. Enough scales are
left 40 that hy the end of the following
season the trees are again badly in
tested. This spraying must be done in
the winter when the trees are dormant
and even then the fruit buds are
! largely destroyed so that the crop for
the next year is cut of. Therefore the
cheapest, best and only safe way is to
destroy every infested tree. This is a
hardship, but it is tritlng matter to.
day compared to what it will he five
years hence IL this course ia not taken.
| Two years ago ono man in Delaware
| cut out all trees that we're then found
| TO be infested, but no further examina-
tion was mada until last fail when from
200 to 100 trees were found to have
some scale upon them. These were
| thoroughly sprayed with whale oil SOAP.
| To-day these same trees are swarming
with Young scale and will, before coli
weather, lie as badly encruated over as
they were lastyear. and no doubt many
other trees will hscome infested. In
another case, where tho trees have been
untrented, the scales have multiplied
until now the fruit is conspicuously
spntted by the presence of the scale
aud is evidently unit for market, This
il a young orchard OF KeiIers of 400
trees Tie owner has decided to cut
out all infested trees. To attempt to
treat the troes is expensive, unsatiaiac-
tory and unsafe
This insect attacks the apple. pear,
peach, apricot, plum, cherry, quinue,
grape, raspberry. blackberry, goose
berry, carrant aud persimmou among
fruits: and a wide range of shade trees
aud ornamental plants; in fact when
hy chnnco it is lodged upon any plant
or troe it nas the choice of only two
things-tu live on that plant or die
and starvation has taught it to live on
almost any thing that furnishes sap.
Ii you have this scale on your place
you want 10 know it, If you are not
familiar with its appearance it will
almost surely escape your notice.
So far as yet traead the scale in Dela
ware was introduced from two nurseries,
10 New Jersey, William Parry of Parry,
n. j.. and tho j. t. Lovett Go. OF Little
Silver, n. j. If you have received
trees that came from either of the
ahove within the yeara from lSSS tC
1894 there is danger that you have scale.
But ii is known TINT other nurseries
doing business in Delaware have been
infested, and no young trees arc sure
to no free from it Wherever found. II
you have any suspicious trees, uspeC-
tally any from New Jersey. send at once
to Wesley Webb, Duyer, who will visit
your place, make Il careful eSamina
tion, and in case tho scale is found viii
give all needed information OF direc
tions about exterminating the same.
All suspected cases should be reported
without delay and twigs or pieces O
bark of trees supposed to be, or over
suspected of lleing, infested, should hC
sent to Mr.. Webb for his examination
No trees should tais year he pur
chased from any source without {
guarantee that they have hunn fumi
gated or otherwise treated so as 10 in