168 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



Moutoui" Coiiuty. 



Inspector, A. W. Stephens. 



District: Columbia, Moiiloui- and Nortliumberland counties. 



Demonstration otchaid at Danville, Fa., in charge of Inspector 

 Stephens. 



I shall speak of Coluiiiljia, Montour ami Northumberland counties, 

 the territory in which I have been working- rather than the territory 

 in which I live, it ui:,.\ in- ui <.',\-i!Li;il inlcrcst, however, to note that 

 a hasty examination of one back yard in l^ewisburg this fall showed 

 San Jos6 Scale infested apple, plum, quince, grape, lilac, currant, 

 rose, peony, balsam, ageratum and pumpkin. 



My territory is, like other parts of Central Pennsylvania, moun- 

 tains with valleys beUveen. A wide range of soils and considerable 

 variation in climatic conditions have had much to do with localizing 

 fruit growing. On the hills and mountains much fruit has been 

 planted, while in the valleys little is found except old apple and pear 

 trees. This localizing has had much to do vviih tiie distribution of 

 the San Jos^ Scale, which is abundant in those sections where the 

 fruit has been }>rantt'd most olten. 



In general the habit of the community is to grow grain. Fruit is 

 invariablv a side line. A man who owns a large apple orchard which 

 is thoroughly neglected said to me recently "I grow first for bread, 

 — this is by-work." In very limited areas, close to good markets a 

 few men are studying and putting into practice what they learn. 

 These men are interested in our work — they spray. In this territory 

 San Jos^ Scale did not multiply rapidly during the season of 1907, 

 but the increase in li)08 made up for any sluggishness of the pre- 

 ceding year. 



(Columbia county has not yet been inspected. A day's work near 

 Millville showed no Scale, but a number of visitors at the Blooms- 

 burg fair claimed to have the pests on their premises in the southern 

 part of the county. 



I cannot compare the interest of the ]>eople of this county in the 

 care of their trees two years ago and now, but Columbia county is 

 progressive and is said to grow excellent apples. 



Montour county was visited in 190G and 1907. About 50 per cent, 

 of the farms have some ■-■.<:) Jos(^ Scale. In a few regions it is as 

 serious as in our southeastern counties but these sections are lim- 

 ited in area. Since completing the inspections I have not visited the 

 county except to go to the demonstration orchard at Danville. Each 

 demonstration has been well attended and several people have at- 

 tended every demonstration given. I have heard from several that 

 they have sprayed successfully. The example of these men, usually 

 young men and progressive, will mean much and I believe it is en- 

 tirely safe to say there is a more active interest in spraying, and a 

 more definite knowledge of scale insects than there was two years 

 ago. 



Northumberland county. I started in 1907 in the northern end of 

 the county and have covered about half of the county. In two 

 localities I found Scale, especially prevalent, and learned that it 

 had been known in those localities since 1893. The summary of the 

 five months work just passed is as follows: 



