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THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



REPORT OF THE SAN JOSE SCALE COMMISSION. 



HE report of this Commission is just 

 to hand, signed by Dr. Mills and 

 Messrs. Dearness and Bunting, three 

 excellent men in whom the fruit 

 growers have every confidence. The recom- 

 mendations of the Commission are very much 

 in line with the resolution passed by our Asso- 

 ciation at Whitby, and help to evidence the 

 propriety of our position. The Committee had 

 visited Catawba Island in company with Prof. 

 Webster of Ohio, an island which is a continu- 

 ous orchard for miles. Here 3000 or 4000 

 badly infested orchard trees had been removed 

 in a block, and the surrounding orchards, which 

 were not seriously infested, had been treated 

 to whale oil soap — from one to two pounds to 

 the gallon. The result of the treatment is very 

 encouraging, for the treated orchards had taken 

 on an exceptionally healthy and vigorous ap- 

 pearance, and although the scale had not yet 

 been totally exterminated, it had not done any 

 damage since the treatment began. Indeed 

 the owners claimed that the treatment had been 

 a blessing to them, not only in destroying the 

 scale, but causing the trees to take a new vigor, 

 through being cleared of insects and fungi, 

 notably bark-lice and curl leaf. 



It was Prof. Webster's opinion that persist- 

 ent treatment would effectually exterminate the 

 pest in the course of a few years. 



Among other good points in the report, the 

 following suggestions regarding future methods 

 of procedure will be read with interest : 



1. That the work of inspection, in a modified 

 way, be continued for some time. 



2. That the knowledge of sub-inspectors be 

 tested, and none but certified and approved 

 men be employed. 



3. That the inspector be authorized to de- 

 stroy at once all trees and shrubs which show 

 signs of serious injury from the scale, or have 

 their trunks and principal branches incrusted 

 therewith. 



(J)) Badly infested trees and shrubs of un- 



profitable varieties, or in unhealthy condition, 

 even though not very much injured by the scale. 

 ic) Single infested branches or limbs on trees 

 which appear to be otherwise free from infesta- 

 tion. 



4. That all infested trees and shrubs, except 

 the above, and all exposed trees and orchards 

 be thoroughly treated according to the most 

 approved method. 



5. That large discretionary power be given 

 to the inspector in dealing with isolated infec- 

 tation in districts that are otherwise free, or 

 supposed to be free from the scale. 



6. That in order to secure effective treatment 

 the work be done by the Government, but the 

 owner be required to pay for the material and 

 board the men and horses during the time of 

 treatment, with the proviso that this course is 

 only to be pursued with infestations discovered 

 after that date be destroyed without compensa- 

 tion, or treated wholly at the expense of the 

 owner. 



7. Provides for frequent treatment in sum- 

 mer time of badly infested trees in foliage, 

 which involve risk to neighboring orchards. 



8. That the inspector be authorized to order 

 the destruction of small trees and shrubs grow- 

 ing in fence corners and other places, where in 

 his judgment, the removal of such growth is 

 necessary to check the spread of the pest. 



9. That owners be paid one quarter of the 

 value of their trees without discount, and that 

 the fruit on a tree be regarded as part of its 

 value. 



10. Provides that the method of valuation 

 be modified so that the owner may be repre- 

 sented. 



Stock Jobbers are already in the field 

 offering a gullible public shares in liquid air 

 stocks, much as they have recently been reaping 

 rich harvests selling "salted" mining stocks. 

 We warn our readers against all such tricks to 

 get their money- 



