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THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



HORTICULTURAL COMMISSIONER 

 MARIN COUNTY. 



PROBLEMS IN 



By Thomas P. Redmayne, County Horticultural Commissioner, San Rafael, Cal. 



Marin County as yet ranks rather low in the list of commercial fruit growing 

 sections, although portions of the county are well adapted to deciduous fruits. When 

 our growers fully realize the importance of up-to-date methods and the necessity of 



going to the expense of keeping injurious insect pests 

 and diseases in subjection to insure profitable returns 

 the industry is sure to expand. 



Potato growing is of some importance and field 

 beans are being tried this year. The acreage of 

 young pear trees greatly exceeds that of bearing 

 trees. Vegetables and hay are raised to some extent 

 but not in sufficient quantity to supply the local 

 demand. 



A far larger investment however lies in orna- 

 mentals, for southern Marin is a county of beautiful 

 homes where the natural scenery is an advantage. 

 Trees and plants from all parts of the world are 

 planted in conjunction with our native sorts. Owing 

 to the great variety of plants there naturally is a 

 great variety of their enemies. However there have 

 been few serious outbreaks. 



The most common and persistent pests, and which 

 probably do the most damage all around, are the 

 various aphids. Large quantities of our native lady- 

 bird beetles breed in the hills of the county and do 

 excellent work in controlling these pests but owing to their late appearance in the 

 orchards spraying is necessary to prevent injury to the young fruit. The scale 

 insects are a close second in importance and as many of them have a wide range of 

 host plants including the native species, they are the hardest to control, spraying or 

 fumigating in most cases being impracticable. However at present, with local excep- 

 tions, none of these are very serious among the fruits. Prunes in one locality suffered 

 considerably from an attack of the European fruit lecanium. The black scale in the 

 past was very serious both among ornamentals and fruits but thanks to our little 

 friend the SaitelHsta is now greatly reduced. The cottony cushion scale, formerly a 

 serious menace, more particularly among certain ornamentals, is pretty well under 

 control, yet owing to its prolific nature needs close watching. It is to be regretted 

 that there is not a better supply of the Vedalia for this little beetle does good work, 

 yet for some reason does not multiply like some of the others. 



While in the coast section apples are free or practically so of the codling moth 

 larvae, in the interior the case is the reverse. Owing to the lack of funds it is 

 impossible to carry out the law in abating this nuisance and dependence has to be 

 made on voluntary action on the part of the growers and bringing them to a 

 realization that it is to their personal profit to produce clean fruit. No doubt the 

 new standard apple act will help bring results. 



The growing of commercial currants has practically been abandoned owing to the 

 currant fruit fly. A small indication is seen in the work of this pest of what the 

 introduction of the Mediterranean fruit-fly with its omnivorous habit might prove. 



Unless proper treatment is given, many of those experimenting with field bean 

 growing are likely to be discouraged owing to the prevalence of the two-spotted mite, 

 but where tried the dry sulphur has proven to be a very satisfactory treatment. 



Among the weed pests a species of lupine causes much trouble in one section and 

 is apparently as hard to eradicate or control as the morning-glory, being a perennial 

 and growing by root division in a similar manner. 



Fortunately the ground squirrel is practically extinct in the county. Complaints 

 have been received of damage by the California linnet, not only to the various 

 ripening fruits but to the destruction of the fruit buds in early spring, particularly 

 of the prune and plum. In some cases the writer was shown trees that were prac- 

 tically stripped. In one case prune trees in the nursery rows were rendered unfit 

 for planting, all the buds being removed. A suggestion has been made of the 

 addition of arsenate of lead or paris green to the usual spray as a bud protection. 



