The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1901-11-19
THE SCALE PEST.
How to Cope with the San Jose Enemy Of
Fruit Trees.

| The San Jose scale is the most formid-
able pest the American fruit raisers have
to contend with at the present time. 1t
first found Judgement in the fruit ORCH
ards OF San Jose, California, in the year
1883, having been transmitted from Aus
tralia, where it has parasitic enemy to
keep it in check. From this first infec-
ton it has spread till now it is found in al
most every part of the United States and
is making of itself such a gigantic pest
that throughout the whole country the
situation has become alarming. That
stringent measures must be taken to
stamp out this pest there is no question,
and it must be done soon or the industry
OF the orchardist will fall below its rev.
enue creating position.
However, the invasion OF this pest has
had good effect in creating boards of
horticulture, where none before existed,
and establishing careful inspection of
trees and nursery stock in nearly all the
states. Through these boards and in
spectors the people have been enabled
to learn something about the pest and
the best methods so far extant to cope
with it. 1t has been estimated that
single female will produce 5000, 900 pro-
geny in a season. Is it any wonder then
that the local fruit tgrowers, who have
no scale this year, will be startled to
| find it in their well.cared-for orchards
next year? And this is the way it acts
in this valley where the fruit growerineg-
lects to attend to his orchard.
A careful inspection OF number of
orchards in this vicinity discloses a
startling condition of affairs. The scale
abounds everywhere almost and there are
but few orchards that are not affected to
more or less extent. Eight years ago
there was not scale-infected orchard in
the valley and the fruit shipped out
made for Yakima name that will long
stand above all others in the northwest
as synonym for the choicest kind Of
fruit. Now, it is with the hardest kind
of work that the orchardist keeps down
the pest that is allowed to spread by his
neighbor, and puts on the market fruit
that is unquestionable.
This condition does not apply particu-
larly to the Mob Hill district The trees
there are comparatively free from pest
but in the orchards on the first bench
from the Natchez to Union gaps is where
it predominates. In this part of the val
ley are located all the old orchards, and
in these the scale finds favorable place to
live and multiply. From these old orch
ards, that receive little care, it spreads
to the newer fields to harrass the fruit
grower.
At present the only district not affect
ed is that composed OF Zillah, Sunnyside
and the surrounding country. The scale
has not reached there yet, but some fruit
raisers say that unless the people to the
north take more effective measures to
stamp it out they will have it within the
next year or so.
In late circular OF the department OF
agriculture the following is given as the
most practical remedy:
1.-The lime, sulphur and saltwash, ,"
the circular says, lis the invarable rem
edy for the San Jose scale in California
and much OF the Pacific coast, and is I'M
der the conditions of climate obtaining
in that region, undoubtedly very effective
1t is winter application, and is applied
in January or February, or at any time
prior to spring growth. 1t may be pre-
pared after the following formula: In
Stacked lime, 80 pounds; sulphur, 20
pounds salt Is pounds. Place all to-
gether in barrel with 80 or 40 gallons
Of water and boil with steam for three
or four hours. For use, the mixture
should be diluted to make sixty gallons
of wash, and may be preferably applied
at high temperature. ltmay be made
in smaller quantities by boiling over Il fire,
using the same proportion of ingredients.
This wash is applied nearly every year,
or as often as the San Jose scale develops
in any considerable numbers. 1t has
the advantage of leaving limy coating
on the trees, which acts as deterrent
to the young scale lice, and where it is
not washed by rains retains its value as
an insecticide coating for some time, re-
naming in evidence on the trees for
several months"
There is, however, another and more
natural agent that may sooner or later
enter the lists against the scale. The
fact that it has been found in Japan,
widely scattered, yet in such small col
onies as to be comparatively harmless,
points to the belief that there must be
one or more insects which feed upon it
and keep it down. The importation Of
the parasite of the mealey-bug, which