Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-08-12
TREELEss ALMA IN 1920
European Scale Destroying
Alma Trees Must Be
Checked

Unless thorough and scientific
spraying is done by every owner of
trees, all the shade and fruit trees i'm
Alma, will become infected and the
majority totally destroyed within the
next five years, say tree experts who
have examined the condition of a large
number of them during the past few
weeks. Scarcely a tree has been
found which is not infected with the
European or Scurvy Scale. Four
years elapse between initial infection
and death. Several trees in Alma,
have already succumbed to the ravag-
es Of the arboreal scourge; two of
these may be seen on the corner of
Orchard and State streets on the
southwest part Of the corner. From
almost any tree branch may be
broken off on which an infinite number
of scales and the small bugs which
produce them
Soft maple trees are those most
easily affected by the scale; but every
tree in the city is susceptible to it, II
attacks the bark mot the leaf as do
some scales) burrowing under it until
it reaches the sap. Having found sap
it burrows no farther but begins TO
propagate. From one female alone,
two million offspring are born i'm a
single season. Thus il is seen that
unless the scOurge is Immediately
checked it will soon get beyond con-
troll. The insect breathes from its side
and sucks the sap on which it lives.
The scale is spread from tree to tree
by leaves and birds. Two years ago
Il was predicted by one of the garden
er's at the King home that within
three years the European Scale would
be found on every tree Alma. His
prophecy is being fulfilled with alarm
ing accuracy.
However, one redeeming feature of
the pest is that it is much more easily
controlled and blotted out than other
scales, such as the San Jose etc. A
solution of lime and sulphur literally
applied will generally kill the scale at
first application. This can be purchas
ed at hardware or implement stores.
A mixture of eight parts water to one
Of the mixture will kill the toughest
scale that ever lived; while a mixture
Of twelve to one is sufficient for the
death Of little girl and boy insects
The only agent known for the EXTERN
ination is a parasite which will coun-
teract its efforts.
The problem OF saving the trees OF
individuals is not more important than
the problem Of saving those which are
growing on municipal property. The
trees in the Wright Park are badly
infected as any. Something must be
done Immediately to save them. 1t has
been suggested that the city buy
high power spraying machine which
would shoot a stream of liquid to the
top of the highest trees. The initial
expense of this would be large, pro-
badly a thousand to twelve hundred
dollars; it's purchase would be entire
ly practicable. Such a machine would
have pressure of three hundred
pounds. The cost Of spraying material
would be almost negligible. Howev-
er, hesitancy about spending twelve
hundred dollars, at the most, should
be no stumbling block in the way of
saving Alma's shade trees, for that
is just the way the question revolves
itself.
The action Of the spraying liquid
on the tree is for the fluid to crystal
lie after spreading over the surface
of the bark When crystallized it
smothers the scale to death. How
ever, each tree must be sprayed
thoroughly. The best time in the
year for doing this is in the fall or
winter months when the tree is dor
mant.
Alma people should arouse them
selves to the gravity of the situation
or else one of the chief sources Of
the city's beauties will be destroyed.