White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-03-15
WARNING OUT ON
SAN Jose SCALE

Benton county during the 1928 sea-
son was the most serious experienced
by the industry for many years, This
was true not only in Benton county,
but also in all apple districts of the
state where the insect has been known
to exist. One man, in charge of COM
merciall packing plant, estimated the
cullage due to San Jose scale as high
as ten percent of the crop; while in
some crops 80 to go per cent of the
fruit was affected.
1t is very evident that something
must be done to eliminate this great
loss, Doyle B. Starcher, district horti-
cultural inspector states in bulletin
just distributed to growers.
Much of the scale in the commercial
crop comes into the orchard late in
the season from scale infested trees
nearby that have not been sprayed.
The Horticultural Department is, at
the present time, working on the prob
lem of eliminating these neglected or
chards. Many of the neglected or
chards are owned by non-residents
and sometimes it is very difficult to
convince them that the trees are OF no
value. However, we are getting num-
Der of the "pest holes' cleaned up,
Starcher adds.
Another factor causing the great in
crease of San Jose scale infestation
last season was the lack of thorough
ness of growers in applying the dor
mant spray. Much of the poor spray
ing was due to the windy weather
that occurred during the spraying
period.
| If lime and sulphur is used as the
dormant spray, apply solution test
ing at least a Baurne g. Baume in
case Of heavy infestation). When US
irg an oil spray, apply solution hav-
4 ing an actual oil content OF at least z
per cent But whether lime and sui
phur or an oil spray is used, thorough
ness in the application should be stress
ed, with special attention being paid
to covering the tips of the branches.
If the growers who have neglected
orchards near them will write to the
Horticultural Department. lat Prosser,
regarding these places, or get in touch
with the Deputy Horticultural Inspec-
tor in their district, we will endeavor
to clean up these "pest holes" for
them Starcher says.
1t has been rumored that the San
Jose scale has been killed by the low
Temperatures experienced this winter,
and that some orchardists are plann-
ing to omit the dormant spray. If
the scale has been killed by the cold
winter weather, the emitting Of the
dormant spray would mean the saving
of dollars and cents by the orchardist
However, if the scale should not be
killed and the dormant spray be
eIonasttad he wolzld lose Far more thar
the cost Of applying the dormant
spray. The orchardist will experience
the latter results if he omits the
dormant spray this year, for only a
small percentage of the San Jose
scale has been killed.
Actual count of scale on twigs this
spring has shown that about 40 per
cent of the over wintering scale, those
that are one-third to one-haf grown;
have not survived the winter. While
this is greater mortality than occurs
during the average winter, the remain
ing go per cent of live scale will badly
infest the orchards this summer and
fall unless thorough spraying practices
are used.
Even though IS per cent of the
over wintering scale were killed, the
remaining Is per cent of live scale
would cause serious losses if the trees
were not sprayed. An individual fe-
male scale may give birth to about
400 young and as the life cycle of the
female covers but few weeks, there
may be several generations year.
The progeny from one parent during
1908, o40,24o females. Thus it is easy
to see why thorough spraying should
be practiced even though only 10
or is per cent of the scale survived
the winter.
If Lime Sulphur is used as the dor
mant spray, use at least 4 degrees
Baume test Is degrees Baume in case
of heavy infestion.) If the stock solu-
ton tests 80 degrees Baune use % to
"a gallons to 200-gallon tank to
make spray testing degrees Baume.
Where oil is the dormant spray, use an
emulsion containing per cent actual
oil. This may be obtained by adding
91l to 10 gallons of commercial oil
containing 80 per cent actual oil to a
200-g gallon tank.
Do not neglect to apply the dormant
spray use spray of sufficient strength
to kill the San Jose scale and be sure
to completely cover each tree, being
careful not to miss the tips of the