Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-06
he. SAN JOSE SCALE EVIL.

Commissioner of Agriculture 6. w.
Koner in his annual report now In the
hands of the printer, deals quite extern
sively with the existence of the San Jose
scale on fruit trees in the State. and
cites remedies for its removal. This para
site that eats through the bark. and sucks
the sap from the twigs. has increased
in the fruit orchards with the result that
many fine young trees have been de-
stroyed II is peculiar to all sections OF
the United States, and while it is an
ugly foe to the fruit-grower. it can DC
eradicated under proper treatment.
1t was discussed at the meeting OF the
Virginia horticultural Society in Lynch
burg last week and was the cause OF
some rather severe criticism upon Prol.
w. B. Atwood, of Blacksburg, the state
Entomoiogist Members OF the society as
serted that Professor Atwood had been
negligent in his duty in not advising 1rult-
growers in the State as to the best means
to fight the pest. and effectually eradl-
cate it. He declared that he DID not nave
the means at his command to BRING the
question fully before the frult-SroWers'
but it seemed to be the sentiment OF the
society that the fund set aside by the
State at the the disposal of the State
Entomologist was sufficient TO enapie MN
to conduct an active campaign against
the pest. The statement that some law
snouia be enacted to protect the growers
from the San Jose scale brought forth
tho oDinion from one Of the members or
the society that the State did not need
any new law, but probably another En-
tomoloSist.
PROFESSOR ALLWOOD'S DEFENCE.
It is understood that Professor Atwood
stated that the pest got into the orchards
from Young trees purchased from the
nurseries, and that, if such information
got abroad among the fruit-growers, IL
would iniure the business of the nurser-
les This was rather promptly ana VIZ
orously taken up by members OF the So
ciety, who felt that the growers shouio
ave their interests cared for IN prefer
ence TO the nurseries.
Commissioner Koiner treats the SUD-
iect fully in his report. giving colored
Illustrations Of the scale and its develop
ment upon the trees. The fruit-groWlnS
industry in Virginia has greatly developed
in the past few years. until it has be-
come one of the most profitable branches
of farming. and an active stimulus mas
been given to the enterprise by the efforts
of Commissioner Ko.ner to bring the at
tention of farmers to the value OF or
chards as q source of revenue.
3 any Interesting facts about apple trees
in Virginia are brought out in the COM
m .ssioners report. An illustration is CIV
en- of the Handy Apple Tree in Patrick
county. This noble tree is one hundred
years old. growing far up in the noun
tains where it is supposed to have had
IS-h 1,r,t f..
crs in a deer camp. Last year this tree
bore 112 bushels of apples and the owner
converted them into the fine Patrick coun-
tv apple brandy, the yield bringing forty
two gallons of that excellent liquor fer
which Patrick and the counties neigh
boring are noted.
THE PlPPIN VARIETY.
The distinction of raising pippins is no
longer confined to Albemarle county. Sec
tions of the Southwest Virginia are com
in;, to the front in this line. a Patrick
county grower having 1880 apple trees In
his orchard sold the crop last year,
gathered in piles. for 5000. Fifty-two
York Imperial trees. eighe years old,
in Augusta county, brought their owner
$500 for the crop on the trees last season,
and the Maxwell pippin tree near Coves-
willie, Va has rcpea teddy brought its
owner over 500 a season Mr.. Kyle
Wertz. OF Roanoke county. has pippin
tree that has yielded him $1,000 worth of
apples since it began TO bear. Through
out the State Commissioner Koiner says
there is lively activity in setting out
young orchards that in the course of five
years will begin to yield. and continue a
source of revenue, increasing in value
ca oh year.
+ In view of the steady increase of the
Eapple-IaisinS industry in the State, the
growers have become deeply interested
in preventing the San Jose scale from
getting any serious Roadway. and the
commissioner states that, with proper
care. the pest can be eradcated, and if
Vigilance is used to prevent the nurser-