Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-04-10
FIGHTING PLANT ENEMIES.
A REVOLUTION IN METHODS or
INSECT PEST TREATMENT.

Remarkable and Effective Work Car
ried on by the California Commits
sion-saving Millions Of Dollars to
the Fruit Industry.
A few months ago I saw in an Of
flee in the city of San Francisco lit
tie orange tree about to set out upon
what l presume was the most remark
able journey an orange Gee ever
made. 1t was growing in wooden
box, the whole tree being not more
than four feet in height. 1t was to
be inclosed in a strong redwood case
with openings to allow it breathing
space.
The little tree was bound for a far
interior point in China. 1t would
probably spend three months on its
journey, would stay some time IN
China. far from the beaten paths OF
the tourists, and then would begin
its homeward journey to San Fran
cisco Curiously enough, the tree was
starting out for China to be cured OF
a disease. 1t, in common with num-
Der of other California orange trees,
had broke "a out with a most wretched
af1iction winch was rapidly destroy
ing its glossy green leaves and unfit
ting it for service The disease took
the form of a tiny insect or scale
growth called Depidosaphes Beckll,
very small in its individuals, but
many in the aggregate and very dan
gerous. In fact, if the disease should
not be checked, it would be likely to
do irreparable damage to a great fruit
industry.
In China the tree would meet man
who has made a lifelong study OF
plant diseases and injurious insects.
He spends his time travelling over the
world searching for the foes of these
pernicfous insects. He knows that
there is a foe for nearly every one,
and it is his business to find that foe.
One month he may be in West Aus
tralia-which country helps to pay
his xpenses-another month may
see him. in Japan, or in India, or
Spain, or Siberia. 1t is well-known
fact that while almost every insect
pest has its enemies, the enemies
and the pest are evenly matched
where the conditions are normal, and
no harm is done. When the balance
Is not maintained, the pest gets the
upper hand Then comes the need
of the searcher of pest foes. 1t is ex-
ceedingly difficult sometimes to ind
the region of the world where the foe
exists. 1t was learned in round
about way, for example, that in an in
terror Chinese province this pest OF
the California orange tree lived SIDE
by side with q tiny insect that was an
enemy to it. The pest and the de-
stroying insect developed in about
equal numbers, so that the balance
was preserved and the pest did no
harm. The object in sending the III
tie orange tree on its long journey
was to take it into the locality where
the pest and the insect both live, al
low the destroying insect to lay It's
eggs upon the leaves of the tree, as
it always does when it finds a place
where it's prey is living, send the
tree home again with the eggs of
the foe upon it, hatch them out in
San Francisco, and then send the
spiteful little insect out into the in
fected orange regions to destroy the
pest that threatens the orange in
dustry.
This is an illustration of the func-
lions of a remarkable enterprise, now
being carried On under the supervi-
sion of the California Commissioner
of Horticulture. The way has now
been opened for a revolution in the
methods of insect pest treatment. The
commission, which is a State board,
has been quietly at work upon the
problem for ten years. 1t has de-
monstrated by actual tests that the
only permanently successful way OF
combating pests in plants, whether
fruit trees, vegetables, or grains, is
either to stamp out the disease alto
gether, usually a practical imposs1-
bility, or to introduce into the region
where the pest exists its natural foe.
The balance Of nature is absolute.
The moment an insect pest gets in
the ascendancy and begins to be
destroyer, this balance is disturbed,
and at that moment, if possible, the
foe should be at hand. 1t is sure to
exist omewhere-nature's provision
against overproduction. When unre-
stricted production goes on in plant
or animal life, no one can predict
the result
So the work of this commission is
not a fad, but a practical and i'm
mensely valuable enterprise, already
resulting in the saving of millions of
dollars to the fruit industry of Cali
fornia- The saving, when the expert
ment is a success, is twofold; first, it
puts check upon the disease or pest,
thus saving the crops; and, second
ly, it does away with the need of
elaborate and expensive spraying
outfits.-From w. S. Harwood's Say
ing CALIFORNIA; Fruit Crops" in the
Century.
Bjornson and King Haakon.
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