FIGHTING THE SAN JOSE SCALE. 



S. C. Parker, berwick, N.S. 



Much of the success of the work of the Nova Scutia Fruit Grow- 

 er^' As>ociatiun has been due to th- energetic and caiable work of 

 its officers, of whom one of the best is the secretary, Air. S C. 

 Parker. At the December convcniion of the association Mr. F.irker 

 was unanimously re-elected secretary. 



barrel of each, trees badly infested ; Mr. 

 McArdle, one barrel of each, trees badly 

 infested. 



These orchards were visited in Jnly and 

 August by I'rof. Lochhead, j. Fred. Smith, 

 Robt. Thompson, P. W. Hodgetts and my- 

 self, and in every case little or no difference 

 could be seen in the an:oun.t of living scale 

 between the trees sprayed with these mix- 

 tures and those on which the boiled lime- 

 sulphur washes had been used. Some of 

 the members of the committee were inclined 

 to think that the mixture containing the sal 

 soda gave rather better results but there 

 was very little difference. 



Of this season's work Dr. Felt reports to 

 the effect that excellent results were ob- 

 tained from the use of the lime-sulphur and 

 sal soda ndxture. The Geaeva Experiment 

 Station workers state that the results ob- 

 tained from the wash were good,- but not 

 uniform. At the New Jersey Experiment 



Station, Prof. Smith reports that this wash 

 has been quite effective, but that it is not so 

 good as the bottled mixture and costs a little 

 more. The indications from this year's 

 experiments are, that if properly made, a 

 useful material is obtained. 



The ease with which these mixtures may 

 be prepared will greatly recommend them 

 to the small fruit grower who has not suffi- 

 cient trees to warrant the installing of a 

 steam boiling plant. It cannot, however, 

 be too strongly emphasized that the greatest 

 care must be exercised in the preparation n" 

 these washes. Only freshly burned lime ot 

 a quick slaking variety should be used and 

 it must be handled in such a way as to re- 

 cover the maximum of heat from the slak- 

 ing. In order to accomplish this hot water 

 should be used to slake the lime. In pre- 

 paring the lime-sulphur caustic soda wash 

 the caustic soda must be added in the pow- 

 dered form, as in this condition it dissolves 

 more C[uickly and cau.'^es more violent boil- 

 ing than when in the big lumps. 



Regarding the cost of these washes, as 

 compared with that of the boiled mixture, 

 it is impossible to give exact figures, for the 

 cost of the boiling will depend on the effi 

 ciency of the steam plant used. .\s aboui: 

 the same amount of lime and sulphur arc 

 used in all cases, it practically leaves the cost 

 of the boiling to be compared with the cost 

 of the sal soda or caustic soda used, and the 

 required quantity of these to make a barrel 

 of tile mixture can be obtained for 25 cents. 



There is no doubt any of these mixtures 

 will destroy the scale, but every part of the 

 tree must be covered with the wash. Any 

 part left uncovered acts as a seed bed for the 

 reinfestment of the whole tree. As it is 

 practically impossible to cover every crutch 

 and crevice on the tree, the use of the lime- 

 sulphur washes may not exterminate the 

 scale, but there is no doubt that when thev 

 are properly applied the pest can be c^'- 

 trolled. 



