Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1921-12-23

lrult growers of Washington are now
saying that the cooling moth is not
a serious problem because we have
II so completely under control. In
the older states where the pest has
peeh fought longer and usually null
tlplies less rapidly, fruit growers
stlll consider the cooling moth one
OF their worst enemies. The control
Oh this pest in Washington indicates
that there has been more complete
cooperation between our fruit grow
ers and the agricultural specialists
than has existed in other states. We
nave cause to be proud of this rec
ord which has meant increased eff
cheney and increased profits.
Twenty years ago the cooling
moth threatened the destruction of
he apple industry 1t was common in
those days for orchards to produce
a crop that contained from 400 to
800 per cent worms, or an average
Oh live worms for each apple. After
the work of Eldred l.. Jenne in the
lie history of this pest and the ap-
phcatlons of his plan of spraying,
Washington now stands first in the
highest percentage of worm-free
fruit. In contrast to this, the state
OF New York which in the past has
been considered our leading fruit
state, now feels that it is especially
successful in its spray program if
1t haryests a crop that is 80 per
cent free from worms. And the
members of the Washington Horti-
cultural association feel that they
have failed if they find in their har-
vest one little corner of the orchard
in which there has been as much as
three per cent of the fruit wormy.
This is an improvement in this state
from worthless crop to a percent
age of efficiency that is hardly
equaled in any other kind of farm
production.
Incidentally, may I suggest that
the work Of Jenne should be given
some practical recognition by the
fruit growers of Washington 1t
seems to me that honor should be
given his name. / should like to
have the boys graduating in horti-
culture at the State College each
year to know what he accomplished
These young men should have his
work as an inspiration to them. This
young man, working under the di-
rection of the college, overcame all
obstacles and all ridicule; and finally
brought to light the life history of
the cooling moth. | am sorry to say
that young Jenne contracted typhoid
fever while working in the orchards
of Washington and lost his life be-
fore the full value of his services
could be known.
But this is only one of the several
notable things that have been ac-
complished by the State College for
the benefit of the fruit growers. The
control of the San Jose scale has
made great advancement since the
department of chemistry of the col
lege worked upon and developed the
simplest formula for manufacturing
the lime-sulphur spray. Since that
date lime-sulphur has been the
standard spray used both in the con-
troll of the San Jose scale and more
common fungous diseases prevalent
in the orchards of Washington The
improvement of the lime-sulphur
spray has increased the efficiency of
the spray, reduced the cost about 20
per cent and made possible the use
of simple methods to determine the
strength of the solution.
The horticultural department of
the State College, in a paper present
ed in 1914 before the horticultural
association, advocated the use of a
system of cover crop management
which now has been adopted by the
best fruit growers in this state.
Also, a serious problem confronted
the prune raisers of Clarke county,
who did not understand some of the
fundamental problems of orchard
soil management. After the college
studied these conditions and did
some cooperative experimental
work, publications were issued which
gave suggestions that have been fun