The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-02
SAN JOSE SCALE.
EntomoIogist Johnson Says Birds
,f Cannot Destroy 1t.

EntomoIogist Johnson Says Birds
81 Cannot Destroy 1t.
Annapolis Letter in Baltimore Sun.
Mr.. w. G. johnson, state entomologist,
writes concerning the eradication of fruit
tree pests by birds. a subject recently
treated in the Sun, especially in regard to
the deadly San Jose scale:
THE article which appeared in the Sun
Feb 11,,relotive to birds and the San Jose
part of those who have had much exper-
fence with the scale in this and other
states that it seems eminently proper that
the facts should be plainly stated.
Eve must consider the original article.
Prof. Scott, its author, assumed that birds
were untiring enemies of the scale, and
from this standpoint wrote the article
which was submitted to the Sun for pub
LEGATION. The manuscript copy contained
so many techncalities it was thought best
not to publish it in its original form. A
reporter was therefore, detailed to inter-
view Prof. Scott with the view of getting
at the facts in another way, and the ar
ticle published was combination of notes
gathered from the manuscript and the in
terv!ew.
'In an interview on Saturday week Prof.
Scott admits that he has never seen the
San Jose scale, and when the facts bear
ing upon the case are considered it is clear
that his original statement that birds are
untiring enemies of scale is conclusion
deducted from premises which are not ten
able. It is a wel-establshed fact that birds
do not eat scale insects, especially the ar
mored scales, to which group the San Jose
scale belongs. 1t is even doubtful whether
birds could be induced to eat scale insects
by any system of protection and colonial
ton II would be absurd to assume that
birds could and would pick up the finest
particles of dust on window sill if con-
fined in a room.
THE young of the San Jose scale is so
microscopically small when it is first born
for they are born alive, and not produced
from eggs as are most other insects-that
it is scarcely visible to the. naked eye. They
are only nine one thousandths of an inch
in length, and it is preposterous to assume
that a bird could pick up one of them
with the view of utilizing it for food
Falsely assuming that a bird could pick
up one of these young scale insects, it
would be obliged to pick Up one every Sec
ond, working ten hours per day, for eight
and one-half days to get morsel the size
Ol d SIuD
''WAile we believe in effording our birds
all the protection that is possible, in this
instance, so far as the San Jose scale is
concerned, they are direct menace and
injury in orchards infested with this pest
during the breeding season. While the
birds are peering through the infested
trees for other insects such as caterpilars
worms etc, they are constantly dissent
mating the young San Jose scales from tree
8. &C., l.
There are many instances on record, one
notably at Riverside. in Charles county
where the scale was carried more than a
mile by birds and established in two Or
chards belonging to Mr. Robert Marbury
and Mr.. Swan, which have since been kill
ed out Other instances are on record
where the pest has established itself long
distances from infested orchards on the
twigs and branches of the trees which con-
tanned the nest Of the bird, proving, with
out a doubt, that while fitting from tree
to tree in an infested orchard the young
lice became attached to her feet, legs and
feathers and were carried to the nest,
where they afterward established them
selves. We cannot therefore, expect any
benefit whatever from birds, as much as
we love them, in protecting and clearing
our orchards OF this deadly enemy, the
San Jose scale.
I'm Prof scotts paper it is minated
that some srelief from the attacks of the
scale may come from the natural preda-
ceous and parasitic insect enemies. Scr
entists have been theoretically working
at this problem since the deadly scale
was discovered, in 1879. California has
sDent hundreds of thousands of dollars
employing experts 10 search for the natu-
raj reducing agents Many hundreds Of
species Of ladybugs have been introduced
into California with the hope that they
might attack the San Jose scale and help
keep Il in control, but all have so far
failed. Two years ago a colony of i'm
porte ladybugs were released in the In
tested orchards at Riverside, Charles
county, by the United States entomoo-
gist, but after most careful search re-
Gently we are unable to find even trace
OF the original insects liberated.
1.-THE state of New Jersey two years ago
appropriated Loo for the sole purpose of
sending their state entomoogist to Cali
fornia to look into and investigate this
very problem. His recent report shows
that the Undertaking was productive of
no natural agencies that can be looked
upon as promising. We have bred many
parasites from the San Jose scale In this
states. but none are of any value what
ever from thef economic STANDPOINT In
the orchards of Col, w. S. Powell, at An
napolis Junction, / found late in Decem-
Der, this winter. little black ladybug
about the size of a pins head feeding
ravenously upon the scale, out the scales
breed so rapidly and are so abundant that
these feeble checks Of nature are not no
ticeabic.
III the orchards OF this state are saveo
from inevitable destruction by the scale.
Il will be by the united and concerted ac-
lion of the people, backed By the proper
state legislation"