The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-06
THE SAN JOSE SCALE.
intercollegiate Mnriatt's Suggestion
us to Controlling the Same.

Ia controlling tEe Sa7 me-
C. l. Marlatt, first assistant entomoIo-
gist of the Department OF Agriculture, has
compiled treatise on How to Control the
San Jose Scale which has just been is
sued by the Agricultural Department He
says that the San Jose scale is a perma
nent factor in fruit growing and is SO wide
ly dissemins ted and has become so firmly
established in the principal deciduous fruit
regions of this country that it's externli
nation is now in most cases, out of the
question. In the main, therefore, the San
Jose scale must be recognized as a peTma-
nent factor TO be regularly dealt with as
are other insect evils or the fungous dis
eases of plants.
determination is possible only where the
scale is detected at the very outset On new
or recently planted nursery stock or, at
least, before any considerable chance Of
spread has been afforded. It is true that
by the greatest care in the introduction of
nursery stock the San Jose scale may be
kept out Of districts now free from il for
years, perhaps, and one is warranted,
therefore, in adopting every precauticn to
avoid introducing this scale and even to
attempt determination wherever the con-
ditfons are reasonably favora BILE There is
only one certain method Of exterminating
the scale, and that is in digging UP and
burning all infested trees. This an heroic
remedy, and is advised only. under the con-
dlttons of very recent introduction of nur-
SeTy stock-in other words where the scale
is discovered within few months after the
purchase Of the infested trees If the scale
has passed an entire breeding season in an
orchard it VIII have spread much more
widely than any inspection viii Indicate
and very likely viii have gained footing
on wild and ornamental plants other than
fruit trees, from which it will reintroduce
itself into neighboring orchards or into new
paintings, however thorough may have
been the attempts TO eradicate il.
While, therefore. one is undoubtedly
justified IN asserting that the San jesse
scale Is TO be permanent it by no means
follows that the profitable growth Of deoid-
uous fruits is seriously menaced on this
account. The experience in California
covering many years. has abundzntly dem
onstrated that this scale insect can be con-
trolled. and the more recent experience IL
the East points Individually 10 the same
conclusion In other words, by proper re-
pFessive and remedial treatment the value
OF which has been demonstrated by much
practical experience. an orchard can be
protected from serious injury and kept in
a good paying condition so far as Influenced
by the San Jose scale
In view of the above, ii is certainly very
unwise and wasteful TO, dig up and burn a
large portion OF an orchard because it is
infested with this scale insect. especially
since the replantei stock, even if clean
when purchased would with little doubt
be in the same snditicn of infestation in
a very short time
He goes on to describe the various treat
ments that are in use. In California.
where this scale first occurred, the one rem
edy for II is in spraying with the lime, salt.
a79 sulphur wash This wash is very effac-
tive, and its use is possible in all climates
similar 10 those on the Pacific Coast. In
the East, the moister climate and the more
FREQUENT rainfalls at and subsequent TO the
time when treatments have TO be made rem
der this wash Ineffective. and distinct
methods Of treatment Rave been found 10
be necessary The methods Of control for
the East are in the order of their import
ance, as follows: First the soap treat
menti second, treatment with crude kero-
sene; third treatment with crude petrol
cum, fourth, treatment with mechanical
mixtures Of either of the last two oils with
water IN the main, these are all winter
tree tments and are made at any time when
the trees are in a dormant leafiess eondi-
ton. The treatments enumerated are all
for trees in the orchard. Nursery stock
badly enough infested to require such
eral disinfeetion of nursery stock the by
droeyanic- acid-sas treatment is the stand
ard and only satisfactory means"