The herald., 1898-01-13
FIGHTING THE PESTS
HORTICULTURAL COMMISSIONS
WORK FOR ORCHARDISTS
Important Annual Report Submitted
to the Board of Supervisors.
Recommendations

The county board of horticultural
commissioners has filed it's annual re-
port with the board of supervisors.
Aside from a general review of the work
accomplished in the past eight months,
numerous recommendations are made.
Several important changes have been
made in the manner of fighting scale
and insect pests, with improved results
Since the organization of the COM
mission, May 1st last, thorough inspec-
ton of the orchards in the county has
been made. 1t was found that nearly all
insect pests injurious to fruit and fruit
trees infested the orchards. The com
mission adopted new system OF eX-
termination from the outset. Previously
1t had been the custom to employ
corps of men who, under orders OF ths
horticultural commissioner, fumigated
such orchards a s they deemed necessary
The expense was paid by the county,
which, In turn, held the same as lien
upon the property. This plan was found
to be unsatisfactory, as many of the
liens proved to be worthless and re-
main unpaid to this day.
The present commissioners divided the
county into districts, and appointed
number of inspectors to cover them
Orchards were visited, and when found
infested the owners were advised as to
the best course to pursue to check their
destructiveness. The plan seems to
have been successful, as the commits
sioners state the owners of orchards
have been responsive. much good has
been accomplished and harmony has
taken the place of discord.
During the past eight months 10000
parasites have been distributed
throughout the orchards of the county.
Some apprehension is felt over the ap-
pearance of what is known as the Flori-
da purple scale, which has already made
great inroads in the orange orchards.
Since its appearance was first discovered
the pest has increased in numbers at
an alarming rate and has proved very
destructive. Thus far 1t has not yielded
in any appreciable degree to any method
of treatment, except through fumiga-
ton with hydrocyanic acid gas.
In point Of destructiveness the red
scale is considered next on the list OF
pests. The value of many orchards In
Southern California is reported to have
been ruined by It, and so far no parasite
has been introduced that feeds upon the
red scale. Orchardists are depending
solely upon fumigation with more or
less success.
The San Jose scale is considered one
of the most destructive of all scale
pests that confine their depredations to
deciduous fruit trees. Apple, plum,
prune and peach trees are the most SUD-
ject to 1t, although it will, In some cases,
infest other trees. In Los Angeles coun-
ty it has been found that there are two
parasites that prey upon this scale with
great success-one small chalcid fly.
which is an internal parasite, the other
the twice stabbed" lady bird. Although
| the best results have been obtained from
these, there is another parasite, techni-
cally known as the rhizobius toowoom-
bae, which, the commissioners believe,
will prove to be still more destructive.
Several colonies have been distributed
in some of the local orchards, and from
these the scale has almost entirely dis
appeared.
Olive trees have suffered considerably
from the black scale, which Is in evil
dence everywhere. The worst results
from their presence is the distribution
of a black smut over the branches,
foliage and fruit, which is caused by a
honey dew exuded from the females of
this pest.
The yellow scale has been so complete
ly controlled and destroyed by It's nat
ural enemy, a small chalcid fly, that
the commissioners say orchardists need
not stand In fear Of this pest. 1t is
recommended, however, that this scale
so closely resembles the red scale that
great care should be exercised so as not
to confound one with the other, and,
through error, allow the red scale to get
a foothold in the orchard
Shot-hole fungus is proving a de-
structive disease to apples, apricotS and
pear orchards. It's rapid increase can
be easily checked by the proper appli-
cation of the lime, sulphur and salt
wash, as recommended by the formula
issued by the commission.
There is scarcely an orchard in the
state that Is not infested with Goblin
moth. 1t can be exterminated by spray
ing with a weak solution of Paris green
while the trees are in bloom and just
as the fruit is beginning to set The
poisonous nature of the wash entails
great caution in its use. The commits
SionerS have a formula which can be OBJ
tanned upon application, without cost.
Complaint is made against the owners
of abandoned orchards. The trees have
no care, and are nest for the propaga-
ton of insect pests and scale of almost
every description. Many of the owners
have been notified, urging the necessity
of a general cleanup.
In closing their report. the commits
sioners urge upon the board of supervi-
Annual saIes over 9, 1000, 900 Boxes