Connecticut western news., 1898-07-14
SAN JOSE SCALE REMEDIES.
Pure Kerosene Spray the Latest and Most
 Interesting Development.


 Interesting Development. The matter of remedies for San Jose scale has received severe tests in every ! quarter, and reports of results appear conflicting. The last report of l.. O. Howard, entomologist of the depart ment of agriculture, states that the whale oil soap treatment which had been previously recommended as the best known next to the radical process of cutting down trees and burning them has when properly applied and when potash soaps are used fulfill2d expecta- tions, but the insect develops and null tiplies so rapidly that the escape of 5 per cent of the insects or even less after winter treatment will result in the ! speedy restocking of the trees.
 Hydrocyanic acid gas has been used i extensively for nursery stock with good results by some and with poor results by others.
 The most interesting development of the past year in remedial work has been the use of pure kerosene as a spray. Professor J. B. Smith, who did much work in this direction during 1897, has suggested that instead of winter appli. cations summer work would prove most . satisfactory and undiluted kerosene the most effective insecticide. His latest views are summarized thus in a recent i ly issued bulletin:
 Apple, pear, quince, plum, cherry, peach and large variety of other trees i were sprayed in August, and even the nursery trees came through the ordeal i in safety in almost every instance, while in no case was any large tree kill I ed or even seriously wounded. In one : instance bearing Kieffer trees were sprayed in July and September and given heavy doses, with the result of { killing only few water sprouts The essential points to be regarded in the application of kerosene are the finest possible spray, tho completest and thin. , nest possible coating over the entire ] surface and weather conditions favoring rapid evaporation. The trees themselves should be dry. Any departure from these suggestions may cause injury, for I wish it distinctly understood that i kerosene improperly used is fatal to plant life.
 Dr. Smith emphasizes the desirability of more perfect atomizer than is now i on the market, since the kerosene should be applied ill the form of an almost i'm palpable mist. All trimming should be i done, according to Dr. Smith, at least a month before kerosene is applied. A clear dry day should be selected, so that the kerosene may evaporate rapidly. The trees themselves should be perfectly dry. If he were confined to one applica- tion only, he would select September treatment with kerosene as most likely to be completely effective.
 The foregoing represents the newest and most favorable view of this remedy. Many cases are mentioned in Professor Towards bulletin where kerosene prov ed as deadly to the trees as the insects It is from such experiences that Pro- lessor Howard has decided mot to rec. ommend the pure kerosene spray as the result of any one's experience without first advising the individual fruit grow CT to experiment in small way and de- termine for himself by experience in his own locality and under the local condi. tions which exist there whether he can use kerosene to advantage"