164 ANNUAL. REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



Lebanon County. 



Inspector, F. R. Fcrtig. 



District: Lebanon count}'. 



Demonstration orchard at Lebanon, in charge of Inspector Fertig. 



Conditions in Lebanon county in the matter of tree growing are 

 probably not vastly different from what obtains in other districts of 

 Pennsylvania. Trees that were sprayed, and sprayed properly, are 

 healthy, good-looking and fruit-bearing; trees that were neither 

 sprayed nor pruned are infested with Scale and appear to be dying 

 off very rapidly. Without having exact figures at my disposal but 

 basing my opinion on what I have seen during frequent trips through 

 the country districts of Lebanon county, I venture to say that fully 

 fifty per cent, of the fruit trees are infested with San Jos^ Scale to 

 a greater or lesser extent. While Scale is to found in every 

 orchard, not every tree is infested, and as a rule the efforts being 

 made toward extermination have been fond most satisfactory. 



The most popular materials in nse in our community for the ex- 

 termination of Scale are: Lime-sulphur, Scalecide, Kill-0-Scale, and 

 Target Brand oil. So far as my experience goes, I have found that 

 best results have invariably been secured from the use of Lime-sul- 

 phur, and next, by Scalecide. 



As to the efforts being made by the State to assist in successful 

 and profitable horticulture, I am glad to say that it is meeting with 

 more general appreciation, and the Inspectors are being much more 

 generously and hospitably received. This change in the attitude of 

 the tree grower and farmer has been especially marked during the 

 past year. Prior to that period the Inspector was permitted on the 

 premises with grudging consent on the part of the owner, and not 

 infrequently the property owner's distrust and suspicion was so ill- 

 concealed, and so disconcerting to the visiting inspector as seriously 

 to impair his usefulness at such a place. At that time, of course, 

 the agriculturist looked upon the visiting inspector as a sort of 

 "grafter" with a State license in the shape of an appointment in the 

 State Agricultural Department. Since then these suspicions have 

 all been dissipated by the excellent work done, by the good results 

 obtained, and more than all by the complete assurance that the 

 service is rendered entirely free, and that no charges follow in the 

 wake of the inspector. 



As a result the inspector is now a welcome visitor. He is no 

 longer permitted to inspect, but i'S cordially invited to do so, and 

 is met with open arms, and an abundant and sincere welcome. Why, 

 many farmers now await with impatience the coming of the In- 

 spector, and often the plow or harrow, or perchance even the thresh- 

 ing machine, is abruptly abandoned while the eager place-owner con- 

 ducts his visitor over the premises so that he may miss nothing of 

 the benefits of the inspection, and so that no tree may be overlooked. 



I cannot point too strongly, or too extravagantly to the benefits of 

 the public demonstration orchard. It has been of inestimable 

 benefit. In the course of his tour the Inspector tells the tree grower 

 of the benefits of pruning, of spraying, and of other treatment of the 

 trees and the fruit, and innumerable times he will be accosted with 

 the question as to how it is to be properly done, what materials 

 must be used, and scores of other queries. Many farmers also point 

 to poor results obtained in neighboring orchards which have been 

 sprayed. To such, the public demonstration orchard is a perfect 



