The record-union., 1898-12-22

all nearly of a size he could always
sell them. There ought, he thought. to
be a Fruit Inspector at Florin.
VINE HOPPERS.
Prof. c.. w. Woodwork of the Uni
versity spoke on Vine Hoppers."
He said it was subject that had
interested him greatly, and the Uni
versity had spent much time in inves-
tigating it. 1t had been discovered
that the vine hopper lays its egg be-
tween the membranes of the leaf, a
piece of information that has long
been sought for. The vine hopper has
a little sword, with which it cuts the
leaf and inserts the egg. The hopper
passes the winter as an adult insect
hopping around on the leaves and eat
ing on the warm days. AS soon as the
vine begins to send out its
leaves, the hoppers congregate
on the leaves, as they afford the
best food for it. 1t continues laying
eggs for about three weeks and
at periods thereafter through the sea-
son. which makes them so abundant.
In the fall, when the early frosts
come, all those who have laid eggs
die, as do all those that have no wings
or are unQeVelOpeQ.
The consensus Of opinion is that
''sheeping" does not do any good, but
on the contrary, if there is any diff
ference. The weedy vineyard is gen
orally most free from hoppers in the
spring. AS to the remedies. he had
not had an opportunity to satisfy
himself with them and did not know
of anyone who had. Any remedy, to
be effective, must be one that can be
applied at any time in the season.
Clean cultivation in either spring or
fall, the most destructive time, will not
succeed in eradicating the pest. In
Bulletin No. 10 the subject is fully
treated.
Mr. Mack asked if there was any
parasite that preys on the vine hopper.
and Prof. Woodwork said he knew
of none.
Mr. Mack said that he had noticed a
small sort of wasp that seems to prey
on them and he often found a handful
of hoppers in the vicinity of the
wasps cells.
Prof. Woodwork thought the wasps
might destroy a few, but would not
diminish the supply much.
Mr. Mack said that the hoDpers re-
main on the leaves after the grapes
are picked. and if sheep are turned in
early in the morning, before the hop
pers move, they eat leaves, hoppers
and all, and if it did not kill the hop
pers, it must at least give them a
rather thrilling experience
Prof. Fowler said he had sheep for
two years out of four in Fresno Coun-
ty, but could not see that it made
much difference.
FLEA BEETLES.
Flea Beetles at Florin in 1898"
was the subject of remarks by E. F.
French of Florin.
He said that the insect was so nam
ed by the late Matthew Cooke 1t
appeared earlier this spring than usual
and went to work Immediately on the
leaves and shoots. He used a paper
covered with printers ink that had
been recommended to him. but found
that that particular application of
printers ink was failure. He then
used pans under the vine, with coal
oil in them and found them effectuaI.
In less than one week the foliage Of
thrifty young vines were perforated
by the beetle. The closely shaded
grapes are the ones that are attacked
and injured by being almost severed
from the stem.
In regard to the results of his work,
he said that in 1893, from six and a
half acres of bearing vineyard, set eight
feet apart, he shipped 1,75O crates; in
1894, $50 crates; in 1895, $50 crates;
in 1896, 1900 crates. In 1893, from
twelve acres, set nine feet apart, he
shipped 120 crates and this year 2,236
crates. Besides this there were about
1,500 crates more this year, early in
the season, that were injured, showing
the ravageS of the insect. The injured
grapes are sensitive to numerous inf1u-
ences. He figured his loss this year
from the insect at $3.50, and was salts
fled that had it not been for the pres
ence of the pest he would have had no
injured grapes.
w. Davies said that he had seen the
work of the beetle in his vineyard for
several years, and some years they had
fairly riddled it. He had never seen
the beetle till this year.
W. A. Mott said that if there had
been a farmers club at Florin Mr.
French would not have had to go to all
the expense alone of having to find the
beetle, but all would have been taxed
alike.
PROBLEMS IN IRRIGATION.
''Some Problems in Irrigation" was
the next subject by Professor Fowler.
He said the present dry season in
California has done some good. 1t is
a present loss, but has taught us some
important lessons. There are a great
many who pride themselves on living
in non-irrigation district, but this
season has rather shattered their ideas.
This season without rain has followed
dry season and has started those who
do not irrigate to doubt as to
whether the fruit buds will
form properly for the coming
year Many again, who have been ir-
rigating with water for which thew
have paid have found that the water
can be placed on the surface more
cheaply by pumping. A supply of
water underlies large portion of this
State at depths running from ten to
thirty feet This is true in Sonoma-
Santa Clara. Sacramento and MANY
other counties, there being many under
ground streams that furnish an inex-
haustible supply.
Many farmers object to pumping be-
cause it means an outlay for pumps
and machinery, but are willing to paw
81 to - an acre for water from
ditch. He cited an instance where
the actual cost where a centrifugal
pump was procured and $50 acres of
wheat irrigated and saved at a cost for
pumping the water of not over 30 cents
an acre. OF course, this did not include
cost q