The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-05-27
SAN JOSE SCALE REMEDIES.
Pure Kerosene Spray the Latest and Most
Interesting Development.

Pure Kerosene Spray the Latest and Most
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 fulfilled 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
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
ly issued bulletin:
apple, pear, ounce. plum, cherry,
peach and large variety of other trees
were sprayed in August, and even the
nursery trees came through the ordeal
in safety in almost every instance,
while in no case was any large tree kill
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, the completest and thin
nest possible coating over the entire
surface and weather conditions fayoring
rapid evaporation. The trees themselves
should be dry. Any departure from
these suggestions may cause injury, for
| wish it distinctly understood that
kerosene improperly used is fatal to
plant life"
DR.. Smith emphasizes the desirability
of more perfect atomizer than is now
on the market, since the kerosene should
be applied in the form Of an almost i'm
palpable mist All trimming should be
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-
ton 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.
1t is from such experiences that Pro-
fessor 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
er 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. 7"