The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1905-12-15
HORTICULTURE
=. VALID EN-

Inc san Jose scale is one Ol Inc
dreaded insect pests. At one time 1t
was feared that wherever it got
good start in an orchard ruin was
sure to follow. 1t was thought that no
certain remedy could be used for eth
er it's extirpation or control. But,
thanks to the vigilance of the depart
ment of agriculture at Washington,
D. c., and the work of the experiment
stations, that fear has been dispelled
1t is still pest and one that will ruin
an orchard if it is let alone. But with
proper effort we can SO far control
this insect that its damages amount
to practically nothing. Some of the
efforts to control this scourge have
proven failures and this was to be
expected. Often failures are but STEP
ping stones to success. One OF these
failures is in connection with an in
sect that was imported to prey upon
this pernicious scale. 1t is one of the
ladybirds and is technically called the
Chilocorus Similis. All ladybirds prey
upon the soft-shelled insects (aph-
ides), more or less. The native lady
bird (Chilocorus bivulnerus) lives to
great extent on green aphis and SIM
liar insects. Those beautiful insects
that we so often see crawling around
on the limbs of our fruit trees should
never be destroyed. 1t is now admit
ted that the imported ladybird, on &C
count of parasites that prey upon II
and the cold of our northern climates,
is a failure.
The one remedy for the San Jose
scale that is now recognized every
,I,11,, ch
does the work so completely that all
fear of ruin from this source is dis
PEELED. We have this scale in our
orchards. But last spring we sprayed
thoroughly with the lime-Sulphur wash
and now it is difficult to find vestige
of this pest left. We do not claim
that it is eradicated, for it is doubt
full if that can be done, but we have
so completely subdued it that we did
not lose a pound of fruit this year
in the entire orchard of forty acres
of bearing apple trees
In spraying to control the San Jose
scale insect there are two things or
prime importance. One is to prepare
the material properly and the other is
to apply it thoroughly. To be sure
that the material is strong enough use
in the proportion of one pound OF
lime, one pound of sulphur and three
gallons of water Ordinarily Is pounds
of lime, Is pounds of sulphur and
water enough to fill common fifty
gallon barrel will give the desired
strength. The sulphur, lime and wa
ter should be put into a tank ana
boiled from one to two hours. mex
perienced persons will know when the
material is boiled enough by the sui
phhr and lime being completely united
and the mixture showing an amber
color. The one who has had expert
ence in preparing this material Will
know by the color of the mixture when
it is boiled enough. l am confident
that many failures in using this wash
are owing to the improper preparation.
Where properly prepared and thor
oughly applied l have never known
case of failure. 1t is sovereign rem
edy. 1t has been completely demon
strated that the addition of salt, first
thought to be necessary, adds notnlng
to the efficacy of the compound If 1t
does any good it merely makes the
material stick better. But with us
il sticks we'll enough without the salt
and that expense, which is consider
able, is saved.
In applying this wash to the affected
trees, it must be remembered that
it kills only by contact. Any or the
insects not covered by the wash will
not be killed. This clearly indicates
that the work must be thoroughly
done. One good spraying is SUFFICIENT
if the affected parts are all reached.
This spraying for the San Jose scale
can be done any time in the winter