The Florida agriculturist., 1906-01-10

\
duction of fine fruits, the growers
nevertheless have to constantly con-
tend against the injuries that arise
from insect pests and fungus disease.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars have
been expended in the effort to eradi-
cate scale pests by means of innumer-
able spraying mixtures, but with woe
full lack of success. Notwithstanding
the many recommendations as to the
time and manner of applying the mix
lures, and with every detail conscien-
tiOusly and carefully worked out, no
satisfactory results have ever been
obtained. And even today, with regret
be it said, there are still remnants of
the dsheartening experiences of or
chardists in seeking relief through the
spray pumps. Any one who will in
quire among the citrus growers may
gather an abundance of rueful testi-
mOny on this point.
The Rural Californian has, for many
IL long year, preached fumigation and
warned the people what ill effects
would follow from the use of spraying
mixtures Far better would it be to-
day with many individuals if they had
needed the warning. With the knOwl-
edge now obtained fumigation is, with
out question, the only effective and
satisfactory means of averting the
evils which might otherwise threaten
the very foundation of the citrus fruit
industry. Fumigation does more than
eradicate insect pests. The effects of
hydrOcyanic acid gas, properly applied,
constitutes an unending chain of the
most gratifying results. 1t stimulates
the vigOr and increases the nOuriSh-
ment of the trees. This is accomplish
ed by Indirectly cleaning the leaves
and freeing the entrance to the StO-
mate, or breathing pores, permitting
freer Transportation and absorption of
carbon diOXide. The fumigated tree
conserves it's energy and produces
clean fruit, with brighter color and
better flavor than fruit which has
gone through the process of washing
and cleansing, and brings from twenty
to twenty-five per cent more in price in
the market. The washing of oranges
and lemons to remove black, purple
and red scale often breaks the skin
and SpOilS the appearance and flavor
of the fruit Fruit that has required
washing is frequently unsaleable when
clean fruit is placed beside it This is
fact well understood and appreciated
by all those who have used cyanide
gas. Another reason for the remark
able success of fumigatiOn is, that
when the application is over there is
no residue to choke up the breathing
pores or to interfere with the homo
geneity of the chlOrOphyl tissue by
intercepting the light in patches. Any
one wishing to convince himself of the
vast superiority of fumigating over the
spraying methods need only to visit
orchards where spraying has been
done.
The cyanide treatment was for a
long time practiced in California only
and on citrus trees exclusively, but it
has now grateful eXpOnents in many
parts of the United States, and is
applied with extremely pleasing re-
suits to deciduous trees, such as
peaches, plums, apricOts, apples, pears,
etc. In numerous instances in South
ern California olive trees have been
fumigated with the most satisfactory
results. Trees infested with black
scale and which had not produced
fruit for several years, after having
been fumigated bore heavy crops. De-
ciduous trees must be fumigated while
they are dormant before the fruit