The herald., 1898-11-11
PURPLE SCALE PARASITE
COMMISSIONER TO BE SENT FOR
1T TO HONOLULU
ACTION OF THE SUPERVISORS
Favorable Results Following Intro
duction of the Insects in Hawaii
Hoped for Here

The board of supervisors yesterday re-
ceved from g. G. Kellogg, secretary OF the
Los Angeles board of horticultural COM
missioners, a copy of letter received by
him from Byron o. Clark, secretary and
commissioner of agriculture and forestry
in the Hawaiian islands, relative to the in
PRODUCTION of the Chilocorus Circumdatus,
species of the ladybird common in the
islands, which has been found effective in
the determination of the purple scale.
In sending the Chryptolaemus Mr.. Rust
did not name the one desired and parties
in Honolulu said it fed on pests other than
the dipterous ones, and it was regared as
valuable in greenhouses for the mealybug
at least
Mr.. Clark wrote 81 hardly think it
probable that Professor Koeberle could be
engaged to undertake the work except by
special arrangement with the department of
the interior, and l would suggest that you
send person from there, and any favor
of this office will be extended that we can
to assist in aiding his search. If any sug-
gestion from me is of value would recon-
mend William N. Campbell of Pasadena as
one of the most careful and painstaking
collectors to be found in your county. He
does not pose as a scientific person, or, in
fact, make any ostentatious pretensions; he
is of the most careful investigating turn OF
mind on any work he undertakes and with
access to Professor Koebele's collection of
beneficial insects in this Office he would be
able to find their counterpart if they were
to be obtained. If when he comes / can
personally or officially be of service would
be pleased to render him any assistance he
may need
"That there has been wonderful work
done by beneficial insects of various kinds
on the islands, one only needs to observe
the general absence of pests of the various
scale varieties, and to be told Of conditions
few years ago, as the older residents de-
scribe the ravages of these pests in the
past. In such an equabe climate as this
is, to find SO comparatively few pests of
that nature to be plentiful enough to be
noticeable is surprise to me and should
be convincing proof of the nature of our
insect to any one, and think your super
visors cannot spend money in better meas
ure than to try to secure like results for
your fruit men. Should you send any one
season sets in it will be difficult to obtain
specimens"
This letter was drawn out by correspon-
dence commenced on petition of S. B. Root
and Others of Downey and Rivera, heartily
favoring an appropriation for procuring par
asites from Hawaii for the destruction of
the purple scale. The supervisors yester-
day adopted the following resolution:
"Whereas, the horticultural interests of
this county are being greatly damaged by
the ravages of what are known as the pur-
pie and the red scale, and,
Whereas, it has come to our knowledge
that parasite for each of said insects can
be obtained on the Hawaiian islands; there
fore be it
Resolved, that George Compere be and
is hereby employed by this board of SUI
pervisors to proceed to said Hawaiian
islands and obtain for this county and send
or bring to this county sufficient number
of what he finds to be the most successful
parasite for said insects to be found on said
islands, to thoroughly establish them in this
county For which services the said board
of supervisors will pay all his travelling ex-
penses, including a reasonable sum for
board, and a salary of 500 per month
from the l4th day of November, 1898, until
his return to Los Angeles, not to exceed