The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1906-03-15

| llldI u6 COulO lul ulou lllG ISlldDlS III
formation as to King county, for he
served as county fruit inspector in
this county for some time. The fol
lowing is his reply and not only makes
clear the prevalence or lack of preva-
lence of the codling moth, but shows
likewise that the San Jose scale does
not flourish on the Sound. What he
says of the oyster shell scale is just
what | had been led to believe:
"As regards the codling moth, my
observation and experience led me
to think that King county was to
large extent practically free from this
insect as a fruit pest. Of course, in
the immediate proximity to the city OF
Seattle it was found more or less; but
| was somewhat surprised at your
statement that King county was badly
infested, etc.
81 think that the Puget Sound Sec
ton. north of Seattle at least, may be
said to be free from the moth. And
while not taking stock in the idea OF
one district being immune, and anoth-
err near by not so, think that our eli
matte conditions on the west side OF
the mountains prove limitation to
it's general spread northward of King
county. And as you intimate, the
probability is that our cool nights tend
to hold it in check.
about the same may be said,
think. as to the San Jose scale. While
it has obtained quite foothold in the
town of RentOn, and also traces OF IL
are found on the eastern shore OF Lake
Washington, near Bellevue, L do not
fear at all from its spread in our Pu-
get Sound climate. 1t seems here to
be out of it's proper environment.
/ con the other hand, in no climate or
section does the environment appear
to be so favorable for the growth and
spread of the oyster shell scale or
bark louise, the conditions appearing
to be as congenial here in our humid
cool atmosphere for it's existence as
in it's original habitat, England. 1t is
perhaps our worst insect enemy on the
west side"
On the west side of the Cascade
range, moss is very apt to grow on
apple and other trees, and not only
render them unsightly, but injure
them as well. l believe that our bot
anists say that, strictly speaking,
these growths should not be called
moss at ALL Webster says; 1.-The
term moss is popularity applied to
many small. cryptogamic plants, par
ticularly lichens, species of which are
called tree moss, rock moss, coral
moss. etc." So what we commonly
call moss on our fruit trees should be
called lichens. But popular usage OF
words will not always yield to the
demands of our dictionaries and in
time will compel the recognition OF
words and expressions that have been
condemned by our best scholars. SO
in this case we shall probably go on
calling these growths moss instead OF
lichens. The editor of this depart
ment was called up recently by phone
and asked how to kill the moss on ap-
pie trees The answer was given to
spray with caustic soda concentrated
lye), by using one pound of the soda
to four or five gallons of water. AS
these lichens propagate by spores, the
use of the Bordeaux mixture will &C
complish the same result as the use
of I've. But it is much easier to pre-
pare the I've mixture than the Bor-
deauX. So the I've or caustic soda mix
turs is to be preferred. But where it is
necessary to use the copper sulphate-
lime mixture, commonly called the
Bordeaux mixture, for apple scab or
other fungous growths, it will not be
necessary to use the I've, or it may be
added to the fungicide.