The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-07

ton, of Kansas, has shaved off his black
mustache- With smooth face and coal
black hair, plastered down his fore
head, he looks like an actor who is
weighed down with gloomy thoughts.
No tragedy would be too deep for him,
no situation too intense to be beyond
his reach.
Perhaps he was an actor once Who
knows? The Congressional Directory
is silent on the subject Burton's BIZ
ography only occupies three lines in
that CON pendulum of personal informa-
ton. And these three lines only state
his name, the fact that he was elected
to the senate to succeed Lucien Baker.
and that his term of service will expire
March 8, 1907. So that, if in the past
he trod the boards in guise of Richard
III or Othello. or Hamlet, there is
lures and his stately walk are only
evidences of circumstantial character,
and may, perhaps, mislead."
DR.. w D. Bigelow Gardner, Johnson
county,) who has for several years oc-
cupied a prominent position in the
bureau of chemistry of the department
of agriculture, has been selected to in
stall the exhibit of the bureau of chem
istry at the Charleston exposition.
literary world knows him-is at The
Normandie. His purpose here is to
write up the opening of congress for
a Philadelphia journal
William D. Harris, of Topeka, is at
the Shoreham. He was interviewed by
the Post and stood up vigorously for
Kansas.
Hon. James Wilson, secretary of
agriculture, is pardOnably happy over
the prospect of successful efforts made
to find a natural enemy to the San Jose
scale which has proved to be such a
Scourge to the fruit industry of our
country from Maryland to California
%,1-< ,f,1 1,Sr
discovery because it was made by Mr..
Charles L. Marlatt (of Manhattan. who
is first assistant entOmOlOgist of the
United States department of agricul-
ture. This is what Secretary Wilson
has to say on the matter: Ever since
the appearance of the San Jose scale in
the United States the question of it's
original home has been mOoted one;
and, since none of the parasitic and pre-
datory insects of this country seem to
be very efficient in destroying this scale,
it has become an important point to
decide, if possible, the question of the
original home of the destructive insect,
since it is quite fair to suppose that if
efficient parasites are to be found they
will be found in the original home of
the scale. The Importance of this quest
can hardly be overes timated since the
damage which the San Jose scale has
done to the fruit growing interests of
the country, especially of the eastern
states, is almost beyond estimate.
THE evidence accommodating during
the past two or three years had seemed
to show that very possibly this scale
was originally imported into this coun-
try from Japan, and in the spring of
the present year the assistant ento-
mologist, Mr. Marlatt, was sent to
Japan for the purpose of studying the
question on the ground. Unexpectedly
to most entomologists, although not TO
the chronological force of the depart
ment of agriculture it was quite def
nitely ascertained that the San Jose
scale is not indigenous to Japan, but
that, quite to the contrary, it was in
troduced into that country from the
United States upon fruit stock at sew
eral different times and at several off
ferent points. The most careful search
failed to reveal the scale in portions of
Japan where American plants had not
been introduced. Mr.. Marlatt's travels
in the Japanese empire lasted about
five months, and having satisfied him
sell, as just stated, he proceeded to
China, visiting Chefoo, the port of the
great foreign fruit district of North
China, where the industry was started
by missionary CDR. Nevins) some
thirty years ago, since which time it
has extended over the province.
"At Tientsin the same conditions
were found in the fruit markets, and in
the city gardens and private yards the
San Jose scale was found on a flower
ing shrub from North China In all the
region between Tientsin and Pekin and
the Chinese wall native fruits only are
grown, and no foreign stock of any
kind has ever been introduced. Apples,
pears, peaches, apricots and plums are
extensively grown on the sunny slopes
of all the hills south of the Great Wall
The San Jose scale in this district could
not have come from any foreign coun-
try, there have been no impOrta lions
and the fruits are all of native sorts.
The scale occurs very seatteringly, al
though generally, just as it should if
native, and is in state of balance with
its native natural enemies 1t has a
natural enemy, everywhere present and
efficient, a ladybird beetle known as
Chilocorus similis. From this evidence
Mr.. Marlatt concludes without doubt
that the San Jose scale is a native of
North China. He has collected many
specimens of this efficient natural en-
envy and has forwarded them to Wash
ington. Steps will be taken to estab-
species, and it is hoped that it will
prove as efficient against the San Jose
scale in this country as it has in its
native home. 1t is not beyond the
bounds of probability that this impor-
tation will prove to be one of extreme
value to the fruit growers of the United
States"
The trial of Mrs Lola Ida Bonnie, who
some Kansas people are pleased to call
time at Richmond, is now drawing to a
close in this city.
The Washington Star remarks that with
nearly 500 in the bank for every person
IN Kansas, the reorganization of the
Populist party may be regarded as indef-
initely postponed
Mr.. E w Westgate, master of the
state Grange of Kansas, accompanied by
his daughter. Miss Winnifred. spent three
days recently in this city He has been
travelling during the past three months
through New England in the interests of
the Grange and is now on his way home
to Manhattan.
Prof: Metcalfe, formerly professor of
elocution in the Kansas State Agricultu-
raj college, is now professor of expression
In Ralston university of this city.
Although Captain William Crozier left
Kansas to enter West Point in 1872. he is