CHAPTER XV. 



Destructive Insects and Remedies. 



The orange groves of California have been troubled many 

 years with what is known as black scalebug. This insect or par- 

 asite attacks the limbs and twigs of the trees, and, in extreme 

 cases, the trunk and the limbs ; but I believe it is never found 

 on the leaves or the fruit. I have observed this pest for many 

 years, and have found it most abundant on starved, stunted, ill- 

 cared-for trees, and in nurseries in which the trees were so 

 crowded as to suffer for want of room, and, consequently, for 

 want of sunshine. It is also more prevalent on low lands, or 

 lands not fully adapted to the development of the tree. In 

 many instances trees that were literally covered with this insect 

 at the time of their removal from the nursery, have become 

 clean and bright in a short time after having been planted on 

 high, warm land; the parasite soon disappears. It is conceded 

 that in many instances in which it abounds in orchards, such 

 orchards have an unenviable reputation for bad treatment, and 

 that proper treatment often causes the bug to disappear. We 

 find, indeed, that proper and thorough cultivation is the true 

 prevention of this pest and the remedy for it. 



A variety of scalebug that is new to us has made its appear- 

 ance within a few years past in some of our orchards. It is 

 known as the red scalebug. It is much smaller than the black, 

 and is of a yellowish brown or iron-rust color. The appearance 

 of this insect is the advent of a real enemy to successful orange 

 culture. It covers not only the trunk, the branches and the 

 under side of the leaves, but also the fruit, in its season, giving 

 it a mottled, spotted and scarred appearance, thus rendering it 

 comparatively unfit for market. As soon as it is known that it 



