144 ANNUAL REP€)RT OF THE Off. Doc. 



dreaded San Jos6 Scale. Many of tlie orchardists of tliis district, 

 tlieir trees being infested with Oyster Shell and Scurfy Scales, were 

 of the opinion that they were infested with San Jos6 Scale, but 

 wiien informed otherwise were much pleased. 1 have found plenty 

 of the San Jos6 Scale in all of the townships and boroughs visited, 

 and the owners or tenants were not aware of the fact, and were at 

 a loss to account for the gradual decline of trees so infested. I am 

 of the opinion there is not a township or borough in Allegheny 

 county that is not infested with San Jos6 Scale, and if the work of 

 inspection is not kept up continuously so that the owners or tenants 

 of those orchards iufeisted may be apprised of the danger to their 

 trees, the insect will make such rapid growth that it will be most 

 difficult to overcome. 



At most of the orchards visited the owners or tenants have read 

 considerable from publications, relative to the San Jos6 Scale, and 

 realizing the terrible damage resulting from the presence of the 

 insect, they fully appreciate the necessity of spraying to eradicate 

 or control it. In a great many instances we meet those Avho have 

 family orchards, who inform us that they only grow the fruit for 

 their home use, and cannot spare the time nor expense to spray. I 

 have informed thiin that unless they give some attention to their 

 orchards they need not be surprised that in the near future they will 

 be compelled to purchase fruit elsewhere for their home use; then, 

 again, we frequently meet OAvncrs of commercial orchards who have 

 as an excuse the lack of time, scarcity of labor, their own time being 

 taken up in other farm duties. Have endeavored as far as my 

 experience will permit, to show them, that, if they will allow them- 

 selves to give a small part of their attention to their orchards, they 

 will increase their production and save at least 85 per cent, of it, 

 their trees will produce better fruit, which will command the highest 

 market price. The products of the farms and orchards of Allegheny 

 county find a market in Pittsburg and adjacent manufacturing 

 towns, which is the large'St fruit market of the United States, — more 

 fruit of all kinds being shipped into and consumed in the Pittsburg 

 markets than in any other. Yet the orchardists and farmers are 

 always complaining about the products of their orchards not com- 

 nmnding as good a price as Southern, Western, an] some Eastern, 

 States' products. Have endeavored to convince them that these 

 j)eople have gained by the advantages produced by the sprayer, and 

 unless the orchardists of Allegheny county do likewise, they cannot 

 expect any relief or betterment in their conditions; that the State 

 Department of Agriculture has been devoting much time to the 

 study of insects and diseases so destructive to fruit products, and to 

 conducting practical experiments in pest control, and that consider- 

 able information on this subject has been accumulated and made 

 available for the use of orchardists, through publications and cor- 

 respondence; and that those receiving information of this character 

 have been greatly benefited thereby, and every person has the same 

 privilege of obtaining the same results by corresponding with the 

 Department of Agriculture, which information is furnished 

 gratuitously. 



From reports received very little spraying has been done in the 

 places visited. Some have used Bordeaux mixture, with no apparent 

 results. Before leaving each and every orchard visited, I have taken 

 the time to explain the merits and qualities of the Lime-sulphur 

 spray for late fall and early spring spraying for scale insects. 



