Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1904-04-09
Gives Fruit Growers rlethod OF
Treatment.
Formula for the Noted California
Wash.

Wash.
The following paper On San Jose
scale and its treatment has just been
sent out by Prof. l.. r.. Taft, superin-
tendent of the horticultural depart
ment of the Agricultural college:
"While it is by no means generally
distributed, the San Jose scale has
been found at various points in Mich
igan, and unless prompt measures re
taken to check its spread serious loss
and enormous expense to the fruit
growers will certainly result. 1t will
seriously injure tree ia from two to
five years and kill the largest apple
trees in from five to seven years.
While its spread from orchard to
orchard is gradual, it multiplies very
rapidly and in two years after its APP
pearence upon tree, the branches
often become thickly encrusted. A
serious difficulty in controlling this
insect comes from the fact that few
fruit growers seem able TO notice the
presence Of the scale until much harm
has been done. On this account. it Of
ten happens that the trees in an en-
tire neighborho0d may become infest-
ed and perhaps DESTROYED before the
real cause Of the trouble is known.
Every fruit grower and the man
,lx Ia hn CT chnnlH
carefully examine the branches and if
he finds upon them anything that can
possibly be a scale should forward a
peice of bark or one of the twigs, sup
posed to be infested, to Prof. L. r.
Taft, Agricultural College, Mich, who
will be glad to examine it, report the
nature of the insect and furnish rem
edy If possible.
"At this season of the year the un-
developed San Jose scales, the ones
most commonly found in the spring
are black in color and about the size
of, an ordinary period (.). They are
round, considerably flattened and can
be distinguished from other similar
scales by having shallow groove
forming sort of nipple in the center.
These scales differ from the European
fruit scale, in being of black color
at this point, while the European scale
has an orange colored spot inside the
groove. The latter is also somewhat
larger, lighter in color and generally
ovate in form. The adult San Jose
scale takes on a light brown color
and after it has incrusted branch
gives it a grayish appearance.
1.-THE San Jose scale is more to be
feared than other species from the
fact that in this climate three broods
are produced in one season and sew
eral million scales may be developed
in one year as the progeny of single
female scale. They do not only suck
the sap from the branches. but seem
to induce sort Of fermentation. Upon
the fruit as we'll as upon light colored
branches their presence can often
be readily detected by red spots in
the center of which one or more Of the
scales can generally be found This
scale attacks all of our fruits. except
the strawberry, although it does little
harm to the sour cherry. While some
varieties, the Kieffer pear for instance,
are less injured tnan others. none are
entirely exempt.
"When nursery trees are purchased
they should be fumigated with hydro
cyanic acid gas, or dipped in wash
of sulphur aud lime prepared as di-
rected below. If the scale appears In
an orchard, 1t will often be cheapest
to destroy the trees especially If old
or Of poor varieties. and the same is
true in sections where it has not pre-
viously been found, if il is reasonably
certain that the scale is confined to a
few trees. In case the trees are TO be
saved, they should be thoroughly pruu-
ed, removing all surplus branches and
cutting back the Others severely.
"The most effectual remedy for the
San Jose scale is what is known as
the California wash, composed of lime,
sulphur and salt. To prepare 1t take
two gallons OF boiling water and add
10 pounds OF sulphur, stirring 1t so as
to make paste, Then place 25
pounds of stone lime in barrel or
kettle, pour on 10 gallons Of boiling
water aud add the sulphur paste.
Keep well stirred until the line is
Stacked and boil foI Que hour either