200 .Annual report of the off. doc. 



were unknown, or in such small numbers that little damage was 

 done; but, with the imj^ortation of nevi' fruits and vegetables, these 

 different insects were imported with them. We have the San Jos6 

 Scale from China; the Codling Moth from Europe; and many others 

 that time will not i)ermit us describing. But these two are the 

 most dangerous, and unless the orchardist fights them with the most 

 approved machinery and the best insecticides, he had better give 

 up and leave fruit raising to the man who has the brain and push 

 to do effective worli. 



Remedies. — During the last few years so much has been written^ 

 talked about, demonstrations held throughout this and other states 

 about the San Jos6 Scale and how to control it, that there seems 

 little more to add. Formulas have been given by the score; lime, 

 sulphur and salt, cooked and uncooked, by kettle and steam, how 

 to apply it, and when to apply it; oils, soluble oils, emulsions, soaps, 

 etc., have been extolled. One would think the little insignificant 

 pest would have surrendered long ago, yet strange to saj', there 

 are still a few left, enough to make it interesting. 



Why is this apparent lack of success? There are several reasons, 

 such as poor material, poor machinery, poor man. The two prin- 

 cipal causes are poorly j)repared material and poor application. 

 The average farmer is so used to doing things in a careless, indiffer- 

 ent way, he thinks a few small details left out will make no differ- 

 ence in final results, so he vrastes a little time, a little money, and 

 accomplishes nothing; then "cusses" the professors, scientists, and 

 specialists as a set of imposters. Lime, sulphur, and salt is now con- 

 ceded, when rightly made,* to be a sure remedy. 



lU Time of Application. — Instructions are given to apply any 

 time after foliage drops until buds expand, some advocating fall 

 to be just as good as spring. Do you know that term ''just as 

 good" disappointed many a man? The fall is all right for the apple 

 and pear, but for the peach it is dangerous. This past season hun- 

 dreds of peach trees sprayed in October and November were serious- 

 ly injured, not only the buds but the new growth? Last fall I 

 sprayed about two hundred peach trees. I can estimate my loss 

 at not less than $100.00 on this season's crop, and a greater loss in 

 future. The injury shows at a distance; trees full of dead limbs; 

 all bearing wood inside the tree killed; high limbs that received less 

 of the spray are alone producing their full crop. The symmetry 

 and productiveness of the tree is destroyed. Too much care cannot 

 be taken, to give no advice, unless it has been tested, what is food 

 for one, may be poison for another. 



The man who abuses a confidence should be held criminally re- 

 sponsible for his neighbors' loss. If such were the case, there would 

 be less rubbish published in our papers. 



The Codling Moth. — There is more loss to the fruit grower from 

 this insect than from any other insect we have. The loss annually 

 can be estimated at millions of dollars; yet the greater part can be 

 saved by judicious spraying with an arsenical poison, just after the 

 petals fall, and again a few days later. 



Fungi can be treated by Bordeaux mixture, combining the two and 

 applying at one operation. 



