The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-08-22
Regional Director Of Parks
Announces Plant Pest Survey
In Key Vests FERA Program
To Be Conducted With
View OF Determining
General Condition OF
Plant Life

.. Gerry curlis. regional diree.
tsr 81 parks and recreation, an.
nosnssd teday that plans are
sbeut completed fer making a
plans pest survey Of Key West to
dssssmias the general condition
81 plants aud trees.
People in kcy West today, for
the first time In their lives, are
tree conscious" stated MIR. Cur
tis. As a result of the activities
IL state aud federal inspectors
during the past year or two, Key
Wvsters are paying more attention
60 the condition of their trees and
shruhhery than ever before.
'tor many years a tree had a
large crop of fruits, or none at
al. and NO particular attention
wma paid to the fact. If the tree
wa unthrifty. its condition was
taken as = matter of course, and
Il d died, a. many trees have died
in keg Wcst--and elsewhere
the uwner probably planted an
ether one and went on about his
business. blaming no one.
Change In Attitude
'For the past year or SO, how
eYtF, tbs attitude OF our property
uWnsFs has changed. With the
renewal OF the fruit and with re-
peated sprayings, owners have
been keeping a closer watch Oh
their trees. Any change in the
sUiog IL the foliage. failure TO set
ffus. - arUpptn os leaves has
heen moted Unfortunately for the
pruEross OF the fruit fly eradica-
iion, Ell Of these adverse cOndi-
items have been enormously laid
"a the spray applied by the in
spcctofs.
''lt would be extremely inter-
esting. ~ well as informing, il an
Inventory could be made Of the
trees aud plants growing in each
yard with the view of ascertaining
the number Of different plant
pests present thereon. Property
owuers would in all probability he
greatly surprised 10 learn Of the
great variety Of plant pests which
are etprnaliy sapping the life from
their trees and shrubbery.
Requires Much Time
"sueh "a task would require too
much time. However, arrange
ments have been made whereby
pr Wilmon Newell, plant com
missioner. state plant board. has
offered the services of Reginald
Hart 1T bis organization. for the
purpose 1T making survey of the
island e. determine the various
kinds of plant pests present and to
recommend control measures.
"Nr Hart has had many years
experience IN the investigation and
control Of insects IN Cuba. He
speaks Spanish. which together
With his knowledge of insects,
snake him particularly valuable
fnf oar WORK.
"a Is hard % convince many
pfuple. continued MIR. Curtis,
''thut anything so small as many
~ the insects attacking trees can
really severely injure or even kill
a large tree. u is not the size of
che pest bat the countless mil
lions continuously extracting vital
Juice from leaves and twigs that
causes Injury. In the late fall.
winter and spring there is hardly
a heat ou some varieties of plants
0F trees the under-side of which
Is NOT literally covered with scale
la ccts aud members of the white
fiy family.
Effect From Insects
"These tiny insects eXude a
juice known a. honey dew which
drips onto the leaves growing un-
derneath. This honey dew is in
turn attacked by a fungus known
a. sooty mold. The smutty APP
Continued on Page Four