152 ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



Jos^ Scale and proper treatment tlierefor. Where spraying has been 

 properly done year after year, the Scale has been kept under control 

 and orchards saved. 



While comparatively few people have yet sprayed, most realize 

 the necessity, and would have it done if some reliable person could 

 be found to do it. Few care to buy an outfit and go at it themselves. 

 Some are doing so, and there is an increasing interest in the matter 

 now, over the interest shown two years ago. This interest comes 

 of knowledge. Many admit they lost their trees through ignorance. 

 Those who have recently planted are anxious to save their young 

 trees and will spray or have them sprayed. Several have sprayed 

 since last year's inspection in consequence thereof. 



If we should suspend our v/ork now the result would be a slower 

 l)rogress. Our inspections and demonstrations stimulate the people 

 to action and increase and hold their interest in the work. Be- 

 sides if our work should stop now, before all the territory has been 

 covered, or all the orchards and premises inspected, it might be 

 accepted as a failure on the part of the State, and have a very dam- 

 aging influence. 



The Inspector as a rule is a welcome visitor. His coming is looked 

 for, and if the owner should not be at home, disappointment is 

 frequently expressed by some member of the family, — he having 

 expressed a wish to be at home when the Inspector came. 



Through the newspapei"s the people haA^e been kept informed of 

 the Inspector's contemplated visits to their respective townships, 

 which is a matter of considerable advantage, both to the Inspector 

 and people. 



The materials used for spraying for Scale are Lime-sulfur wash, 

 Scalecid(\ Ivill-0-Scale and Target Brand Scale Destroyer. 



I have found good results from the use of each of these remedies. 

 Their merits probabl}' stand in about the order named. The most 

 positive j-ood results were from the use of Lime and Sulphur. 



The outlook for fruit growing in Chester county is not very 

 promising. Those who make it a business are few. Every farmer 

 has an orchard, varying in size, mostly for home use only, and, as 

 a rule, little care has been given the orchard. They think it does 

 not pay. There are exceptions; some take great pride in their or- 

 chards, and these exceptions may possible increase. Those who 

 are awake to the necessity of battling with the San Jos^ Scale are 

 taking better care of their orchards than ever before, especially 

 the younger ones, and the planting of new orchards still goes on. 



The greatest need, as I see it, is good professional sprayers, quali- 

 fied by knowledge and skill and conscience, and whatever we can 

 do to encourage, or bring about, the establishment of such business 

 will be in line of the greatest help to the farmers. 



Then I would give more attention to pruning and planting. While 

 it is somewhat aside from our strict line of work, it is a good thing, 

 and is a tempting bait to draw a man's interest to his trees. Once 

 get him really interested, and he will care for his orchard. 



Mingle with farmers and fruit men at their gatherings when con- 

 venient, and discuss with them topics of interest along our line. 

 Avoid the rut of being a mere San Jos^ Scale man. The farmers 

 in this county are now troubled with the Angoumois Grain Moth, 

 which is damaging their wheat crops and they want to know about 

 that apd otjier pests. 



