The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-09-23
Can Exterminate
Orchard Pests

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Arthur Rogers, horticultural in
spector for this district comprising
San Juan and Whatcom counties, af-
ter spending two months in the or
chards of this county has gone to
Bellingham where he will devote
his time for several weeks to in
specting fruit marketed in that city.
He says that the orchards of this
county, generally speaking, are in
the best condition they have ever
been and that most Of them are prac-
tically free from pests. Mr.. Rogers
expresses the firm belief that pests
affecting the orchards of the North
west counties can be either eradica-
ted or so controlled as to become
practically harmless and that in the
event of this condition being brought
about and made permanent the
values of the orchards would be very
considerably increased and choice
grade of fruit would be assured.
He Classics pests generally as
oystershell scale, or bark louise; ap-
pie and pear scab and the organic
pests, worms and the like. The
scale. he says, cannot be entirely
eradicated for years to come, posi-
bly, never, as it is found on wild
crab-apple in the woods. OH alders
in some cases and on practically all
fruit trees. The only method Of
dealing with it is to spray the or
chards thoroughly every year, as
each season brings forth new crop
of the fungus spores, which are
spread by the wind and infest even
healthy orchards if care is not taken.
The apple and pear scab, being
peculiar to fruit trees, can be en-
tirely eliminated, he says. It will,
perhaps, take many seasons to do
it, and it is important that careful
spraying be done in every orchard,
as the spores Of this fungus are also
carried by the wind, but the task is
by no means hopeless.
The two former are vegetable
parasites. The worms are the ami
NAL organisms and must be dealt
with by poison sprays for cure rath-
er than for prevention. They, too,
can be largely eradicated by consis-
tent care Of orchards.
Inspector Rogers says that while
he is forced in some cases to take
severe measures, even going so far
as condemning certain fruit, he still
counts his mission one of education
rather than of punishment.
The fruitgrowers are all willing
to do their best to help both them
selves and the community. .once they
understand, /" he said. s'Of course,
it is necessary that they take con-
certed action, because man cannot
keep his trees altogether healthy
while they are exposed to the infec-
tion of other uncared-for orchards
all about them. The horticulturists
are coming to realize this, and they
are public-spirited enough to work
together, once they find out what is
necessary. find a pretty general
misunderstanding Of the nature Of
these pests and a good deal of ig-
norance Of the best preventative and
curative measures. Once the fruit
raisers have been taught along these
lines the campaign will be well un-
der way"
The market inspection is taken up
by Rogers as necessary part Of his
work. A good deal of the infection
comes from scabby or wormy fruit
sold and distributed. The inspector
has full authority under the state
law to order repacking, and when
this is neglected, to condemn fruit.