Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-14
How to Handle the San Jose
Scale and Black Knot PaSts

The Horticultural Bureau of the
Maine Agricultural Department is max
ing a determined effort to stamp out
llose pests or pests in our orchards.
tle san Jose scale n the Black Knot.
Whlch nave gained a foothold in Maine
70 an extent to cause no little alarm
among the orchardists. State Hortj-
culturist Frank H. Dudley has been
giving much attention to the matter
and was willing to talk when ap-
preached by a Kennebec Journal man.
saying that he was only too glad to
gain the attention Of the public through
the medium of the press, as he felt that
the situation had become so serious
that every owner of a tree must have it
urged upon him to engage in the fight
against the pests. Mr.. Dudley said:
THE situation regarding the San Jose
scale and the Back Knot is really seri-
Gus in Maine. l have found tina some
IA or IS towns show the presence Of one
or the other, covering a section from
York to Aroostook county n some
thing must be don and done at once to
control the situation.
San Jose Scale
Every person. in the State, who owns
apple, plum, cherry or other fruit
trees and who expects to consume the
fruit therefrom. should be deeply inter-
ested in the control and determination
of the San Jose scale.
Il am glad to be able to talk to you
In such a way as to inform the general
public and all interested concerning the
swift and sure destruction which this
pest brings to orchards, and also to
suggest means for its destruction.
The San Jose scale was brought to
our western shores on peach trees in
the early 70's. coming from China, the
hilly section of which is its native
home. From these nurseries into
which it vas introduced, the scale has
been carried to and now infests nearly
every state in the Union. Unfortunate
ly this State is at the present time suf-
fering in several sections from its
ravages.
1T is a sucking insect. smaller in
size thar the head of a pin and nearly
circular in shape. 1t is covered with an
ashy. gray scale, having at its center
a small raised point. Underneath This
lies a tiny. soft. yellow insect. which,
with It's beak inserted into the sap,
DESTROYS the lie OF the tree. ALSO, be-
cause the rate of increase is so rapid,
clusters of the scale sometimes form
on the trees in such quantities as to
cut off the supply Of air and the tree is
smothered. The proof Of the presence
Of this pest in an advanced stage may
be determined by reddish spots Which
appear when the scale is scraped off.
THE San Jose scale may be found on
all parts of the tree-trunk bark, leaves
and fruit. The fruit thus affected
shows small red discolorations. which
detract from its market value. The
fruit should be the first thing inspected
about the tree, since there they will be
II anywhere.
THE scale primarily affects fruit
trees. peaches, some varieties OF pears
like the Duchess and Bartlett, and the
Blue Damson plum. which is more sus-
ceptible than others, but It also at
tacks ornamental trees, shrubs and
vines. Ornamental trees more gener-
ally found infested are mountain ash.
poplar. willow. elm and maple: shrubs
that are infected, Japan ounce, sprea,
SNOWFALL, lilac: Towering almond and
some species of roses and currant BUSH
es are often seriously affected.
During the year 1911, about s26, COO, 900
worth Of fruit In the United States was