TREATMEMT FOR SAN JOSE SCALE. 



189 



export. As will be seen from Prof. Robert- 

 son's report, A No. i pears, zV^ and 3 

 inches in diameter, brought as hig-h at $1.40 

 per case or about 20 lbs. , or the equivalent of 

 about $14 per barrel, for those which arrived 

 in good condition. The great question is 



how to control the temperature of the ship 

 in transit ; and if once we are guaranteed 

 that the temperature will be kept between 

 34' and 40", for example, we can grow 

 pears for the English market with confid- 

 ence of great profit. 



TREATMENT FOR SAN JOSE SCALE. 



SERIES of meetings of fruit growers 

 has been held in various parts of the 

 Niagara District to consider the 

 modes of treatment of orchards for destruc- 

 tion of the scale. At Grimsby the meeting 

 was presided over by Mr. M. Pettit, of 

 Winona, who gave an outline of the meas- 

 ures already adopted by the Department 

 to cope with this pest. 



Prof. Fletcher, of Ottawa, gave some de- 

 tails concerning the terrible nature of the 

 scale, and advocated treatment with whale 

 oil soap as better than either kerosene or 

 crude petroleum. This soap is made from 

 caustic potash and fish oil, and is used in 

 the proportion of two pounds to one gallon 

 of water. The cost of treatment would not 

 exceed 10 cents a tree in an orchard of or- 

 dinary sized trees. 



Prof. Owen, of Catawba Island, Ohio, 

 said that in his experience the "whale oil soap 

 was quite effective even on its first applica- 

 tion, and after four years' treatment orchards 

 were 20 per cent, more healthy and vigor- 

 ous than when treatment was begun. In- 

 deed the whale oil soap seemed to be in a 

 measure a fungicide as well as an insecti- 

 cide, destroying the aphis, preventing leaf- 

 curl of the peach, and so clearing the trees 

 oi fungi, that the fruit on treated trees at- 

 tained a larger size than on those untreated. 

 The cost of treatment — ten cents a tree — 



was a good investment, often paying 500 

 per cent. 



The time to treat with whale oil soap is in 

 the spring, during a period of two or three 

 weeks, from the time the buds begin to swell 

 until out in bloom. One good treatment at 

 this time is usually considered enough. 



The method of treatment is to get large 

 wagon tanks and put a good pump at the 

 back ; the driver stands on a platform at 

 the rear and does the pumping ; two lines 

 of hose are used, with which about 1 50 trees 

 per diem can be treated. Of course every 

 inch of the wood must be covered. 



The Cherry aphis may be destroyed with 

 this soap, which will, in certain seasons, be 

 a great boon to cherr}- growers. 



In the preparation of the mixture, first 

 heat the water in a large agricultural boiler, 

 holding say one barrel of water, then when 

 boiling add the soap. If possible apply it 

 hot. 



After many questions had been put by the 

 audience and answered, the following reso- 

 lution was unanimously agreed upon, and 

 ordered to be forwarded to the Ontario 

 Minister of Agriculture, viz. : 



' 'That in the opinion of this meeting the Govern- 

 ment should in every way possible encourage the 

 treatment of trees, infested by the San Jose Scale, 

 the Black Aphis or Curl Leaf, by the application 

 of whale oil soap or other approved remedies ; 

 also that the inspection of orchards as hitherto 

 practised be continued." 



