The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-02

SAN Francisco, April i.-Georgo Com
pere Of Los Angeles has, since 1899, made
three complete tours Of the world In search
Of benehcent buEs-that is, insects to destroy
various pests that injure horticulture. He
IL now making his fourth trip around the
world. While he was here recently, he
talked interestingly about his calling.
He Is In the joint employ Of the State OF
California and the province Of West Aus
tTalia. He Is not yet so. He IL Of medium
height, oompactly built, Of dark complexion
with an extra coat Of bronze from travelling
under many suns.
When he was here he had but just returned
from the west coast Of Spain, where he had
discovered parasite for the Goblin moth.
The new parasite Is q small wasp. A colony
Of these wasps Is being propagated here.
Owing to the ravages Of the Goblin
moth in the United States, only 50 per cent.
Of the apple crop can be brought to maturity.
By the introduction Of the parasite II is
expected that the percentage Of the apple
crop Of California viii be raised to 0S-
In 1909 Mr.. Compere made a trip in behalf
Of the California Board Of Horticulture to
Australia and Asia in search Of q parasite
for the red scale, which was seriously affect
ing the citrus trees Of the southern part Of
the State. He landed In Sydney and, after
spending a few weeks there, went to New
Zealand, New Caledonia and the Fiji Is
lands. During these travels he secured
several beneficial insects that were desired
In California.
Then. he sailed for China, visiting Java,
Cochin China and the northern part Of
4 l.. H. N.-N 4
region that he discovered the parasite for
the red scala.
In securing a colony suitable for ship
ment TO California he encountered many
difficulties. In the first place he bad to find
some Of the red scale. for this was the natural
food for the parasite, and without supply
Of red scale for food tho parasite could not
be bred up and shipped homeward.
The red scale was very scarce because II
had been kept in check by the parasite for
which Mr., Compere was in search. But
the indefatigable Bug hunter was at last
successful in his quest.
On the plantation Of a Chinese farmer
he discovered a single small orange tree
that was affected with the scale. Through
the medium Of an interpreter he arranged
to buy this orange tree for 81.
The money was paid and possession Of
the tree secured. But the farmer upon
learning the exact purpose for which the
tree was wanted afterward refunded half
Of the purchase price.
Mr.. CompeTe had the tree dug up and
shipped to San Francisco. Scale and para
site were found TO be In good condition upon
arrival, and in a few months quite a colony
Of the beneficial insects had been reared.
To show how near the enterprise came
10 being a failure, 1t may be stated that this
colony was taken to an infected orchard
near santa Ana, Orange county, and there
liberated, the owner Of the orchard giving
his word that he would do nothing to the
trees that would endanger the lives Of the
parasites. But upon revlsiting the orchard
the officials found that the owner had dug
I'D his infected trees and burned them,
root and branch, and Of course the newly
bred parasites had been destroyed.
Happily there were left In the Office In
San Francisco few OF the original impOr-
tation, and from these were bred other
colonies, which were successfully launched
upon the infected orchards OF southern
California, and they finally brought about
the virtual extinction Of the red scale as
a fruit pest.
In going 70 China Mr.. Compere had In
mind a search for other parasites than that
Of the red scale, but. the Boxer riots break
ing out, he was unable 10 continue his labors
in that country and accordingly returned
TO Australia. There be entered into the
service Of the Government,
The first work undertaken In the special
interest OF West Australia was a search for
a parasite for the fruit fly, which was doing
extensive damage. That search was the
occasion Of two trips around the world
The bug hunter went first 70 China, In
tending to go to the Philippine Islands,
but an outbreak OF cholera put an end to that
project, 40 he turned his steps toward
Japan and from that country returned 10
California.
He next went to Washington, where he