The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-04-01
SAN JOSE SCALE.
1t is Declared That There are Cases
oft in Four -Fifths of Local Orchards.

Il
cit is probable that there are
isolated cases of San Jose Scale in
four fifths of the orchards of this
vicinity The pest is the deadly
enemy of fruit trees, and if it once
becomes active, is capable of de-
stroying every orchard within a
few years. At present Willamette
orchards are peculiarly favored in
their freedom from it, but utmost
vigilance should be exercised to the
end, that it may not get start.
In California and Southern Oregon
the scale. is widely prevalent in all
orchards, and so terrible is its rava-
ges that fruit growers are in con-
slant struggle to arrest its further
development. By spraying every
year and by the most scientific and
careful spraying they manage SO to
hold it in check that they continue
to produce large fruit crops and to
prosper in the business. But the
trouble is the spraying is expensive
and must be persisted in, regardless
of whether or not there is good
crop and a profitable price. know
gro ers who have assured me that
it takes one-fourth of every crop
from their orcha rds to keep up the
fight against San Jose Scale. In
Willamette, while we are yet COM
parative1y free from it, we should
all use utmost precaution and pre-
ventative to keep down the pest. It
can only be done by patient and
and effective spraying
Such was the statement of Rob
ert Johnson, who has just returned
from California and Southern Ore
gon, where he spent much time in
the fruit orchards of both sections.
He is convinced that it is only by
universal and effective work, that
the advance of San Jose Scale into
the Willamette Valley can be ar
rested. Time was, when the pest
was not in Southern Oregon but it
is there now in all its fury, and a
constant war has to be waged to
prevent destruction of the trees.
AS is well known thesscale is a
very low order of life. It appears
ON the limbs OF trees where as a
black scale, present in large num-
bers it gives darker color to the
bark. It multiplies in great num-
bers and by very reason of the
fact that it lives off the same nour-
ishment that gives life and health
to the trees, it finally destroys
them. It's capacity for the ruin of
an orchard, is said to be under fa
vorable conditions, limited to a
very few years.
1t was known last year that there
were isolated cases of scale in sew
eral orchards of the vicinity. In I
an orchard at the college, there
were two affected trees, and ex-
periments with them have been in
progress. Two affected trees were
found in the big prune orchard the
same season. Both trees were cut
down and burned. At several
places in town, experts were aware
last season of the presence of trees
with the disease.
This spring, however, a far
greater number of trees has been
found. Willie Smith, of the big
prune orchard, has been spraying
in several orchards to the north
ward, and in every orchard he has
two or three affected trees
have been found. It is believed
that there are as many as fifty trees
within the city limits of Corvallis
on which there is scale, The num-
Der Of cases that have already been
found. lead Manager johnson of
the big prune orchard to believe,
and he asserts it freely, that in four
ffths of the orchards of the vicinity
isolated cases of scale may be
found
In the big prune orchard, SO far
every tree affected has been des-
troyed. Four found this spring,
have been so treated. In addition, /
the orchard is being thoroughly i
sprayed, and systematic spraying
carefully and effectively made, will
be given the trees each season
hereafter.
A difficulty to be encountered in
the matter is that fruitgrowers
generally, are not familiar with
San Jose scale, even when they en-
it. They may have it in
their orchards, and not know it.
On this account, in the hope that
the country may be kept as free
forever, as it is now from the pest,