The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-01-21
FRUIT INDUSTRY
Is THREATENED
SAN JOSE SCALE LOUISE running
EASTERN ORCHARDS
Has Made Its Appearance In This County.
Strong Caustic Soda Spray Rcoom-
mended by California Orchardist.
Directions for Applying.

The San Jose scale louise is report, d
to be ravaglng the fruit growing SEE
tions of the eastern states to such an
extent that thousands of orchards have
already been grubbed out, the owners
believing it useless to continue the
fight against the pest, which was al
Taft, Michigan state inspector of nur-
series, says thousands of trees dead or
cut down, tens of thousands dying and
hundred thousand infested and prac-
tcally worthless in all the fruit grow
ing sections east of the Rocky noun
tains, witE the exception OF Maine and
Nova Scotia. The scale louise Is known
to have gained foothold past eradica-
ton. In nearly all the sections the in
festation is general-that is, there are
scale lice almost every where"
The Farm Journal, of Philadelphia,
in its November number offered S25
i'm prizes for the "most practical and
useful answers" to questions relating
to the best sprays with which to COM
bat the pest, and the best time and
manner of application. In the same
article the Journal said:
Fruit growing is destined to become
one of the most profitable branches of
farming, to those who have the intelli
gence and enterprise to successfully
combat the San Jose louise, for as a re-
suit of its ravages, fine fruit will inev-
itably grow scarce, and prices must
rise accordingly. The San Jose scale
louise will yet destroy three fourths of
all the fruit trees in the United States,
which is sure to limit the supply of
fruit, probably increase prices, and Sc
cure larger profits than ever known, to
those who spray effectively"
The January number of the Journal
announces the award of prizes, the first
of which $50 was won by Frank Dex-
ter, of Los Gatos, Cal, and the second
So by Thos. Calkins, of Hood River,
Ore. Five other prizes of 81 each were
awarded to eastern competitors. Fol-
lowing is Mr.. Dexter's formula and
manner of application:
"As soon as the leaves fall the trees
should be closely pruned. Saw out
every limb that Can be spared and cut
out the smaller limbs and twigs until
the tree looks thin. Cut the center out
we'll so that the spray can enter, and
the sun afterwards. Commence prun-
ing as soon as the fruit is gathered if
the weather permits, but do not spray
with the leaves on. Gather and burn
the cuttings soon after pruning. Draw
the dirt away from the trunk down to
the roots and brush the trunk. If the
bark is rough it should be scraped.
"Dissolve one pound of caustic soda
(78 per cent in every six gallons of
water. In spraying wet every part of
the tree. Spray when there is no wind,
and finish not later than Feb. 1st in
warm climates, and March lst in cold
climates. Repeat the spraying after a
rain. The caustic wash is more effec-
tive than the lime, sulphur and salt, as
it spreads better and is not so trouble
some to make or put on.
"If orchards are near together all
owners should spray, or the work will be
lost. Two sprayings may have to be
done the following year. One is not
sufficient, as the young run from the
diving mothers. This wash will not
iniure any kind of fruit tree If put OH
when tree is dormant.
"As to the sprayer, any good pump
will do. use No. 6 made by Morrill,
& Morley, of Benton Harbor, Mich.
Use two lines Of hose if the orchard is
large. The bamboo rods solo have a
tube too small for good work. Take an
eight-foot piece of of three-eighths gal
vanized iron pipe. Cut off nine inches,
which put half way into the end of
twenty feet of half-inch hose, of the
lest quality. Put a burllng wire on
well) on each piece of the pipe and a
half-inch globe valve between them.
Then put double Vermorel nozzle on