Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-01-20
SAN JOSE SCALE.

| meeting of more than ordinary impor
lance was held in the court house last Sat
urday to take action with reference to the
San Jose Scale, which is beginning to man
ifest itself in this State and to some extent
in this county. There were present some Of
our fruit growers and nursery men, to.wit
Messrs. j. Il. Lupton, Geo. W. Koiner, E
Z. Vincent and others. and a number of ouI
farmers who have large and productive
orchards. Mr.. 81. G. Barnhart called the
meeting to order, and Mr.. NJ. F. Gilkeson
was made permanent chairman, with Mr.
K. D. Haislip secretary. Prof. W. B. AL
wood of the v. P. Institute of BIacksburg
was present and was introduced and ad-
dressed the meeting.
He stated that the scale had been known
in California since 1870. and that the first
cases he had found in Virginia were at
Charlottesville in 1898 in garden. Before
cases IN the State. He has traced proba bly,
so shipments of infested stock into the
State, principally from New Jersey and
Maryland. Since he has been inspector, two
years. the work has been only half done
for the reason that the inspection law
makes no provision for expenses of inspec-
tor, and the college has had very little
money to devote to this. He has travelled a
great deal on his wheel and been entertain
ed by the people, otherwise he could have
done little. Notwithstanding difficulties
he has found the scale in 30 counties. The
State has 43 nurseries of which 10 were
found infested. The whole State practical
1y is infested, in spots here and there; says
it is not likely that he knows of half the
cases; knows of about 100 cases in the State
of which four were in Augusta. Knows Of
no case where nursery has disseminated
the scale in Augusta since the inspection
law of 1896 went into effect March 5. of
that year. Does not suppose he has eradi-
Gated over 5 per cent of the cases in the
State. In one neighborhood some $4,000
trees had to be destroyed at one time. He
was very positive that the inspection work
ought to 60 on, but the college could not
continue it without an appropriation. If
he hadn't carried on an inspection the last
two years there would have been at least
one million trees in the State infested by
this time.
Prof. Atwood described the pest, and rec
ommends for young trees wash with pure
kerosene oil; or fish oil soap. Nursery
stock should be fumigated with hydrocya
mic gas. Large trees should be dug up and
burned.
After the address there were various mo-
tions made which were discussed by Messrs.
II. e. Barnhart, K. S. Turk, Z. q. Vincent,
NJ. F. Gilkeson. H. NJ. Holt, D. W. Drake,
W. W. Sproul, aid E. g. Jordan, member
of the legislature from Frederick county.
who came specially to attend the meeting.
Two resolutions were passed, one asking
the Augusta county representatives to sup
port general bill, copy of which was
read and adopted. applicable to the whole
State for the eradication of the scale, and
in case the general bill fails to secure th e
passage of bill empowering the supervi-
sors of Augusta county, where they deem it
necessary. to make appropriations, 10 ex-
terminate the scale in the county. The off.
GERS of the meeting were instructed to in
form the representatives of the action of
the meeting.
A vote of THANKS was rendered Prof.
Atwood.
MIR. H. &. Barnhart suggested the forma-
ton of a;fruit growers association in this
county, but no definite action was taken on
the motion. The meeting then adjourned.