37 



Brought in from the United States in the early nineties, close observers 

 detected its presence about 1897 in one or two widely separated localities. 

 Active steps were at once instituted to forestall its further spread. The Provin- 

 cial Department of Agriculture, at the request of the fruitgrowers, endeavored 

 to remove all traces of the infestation by a rigid inspection of suspected orchards, 

 and the destruction of all infested trees, since no methods of treatment at this 

 time had been proven sufficiently satisfactory to be reliable. 



The scale had, however, secured such a foothold and had spread so rapidly, 

 that it was found impossible to check it by the methods adopted, and in some 

 cases the remedy was considered worse than the disease. 



LIME AND SULPHUR SPRAY. 



The chief inspector, Mr. George E. Fisher, at the suggestion of the Commis- 

 sion appointed to consider ways and means to control this infestation, set about 

 experimenting with various proposed remedies in the way of spray mixtures 

 with the result that he was able to demonstrate that a solution of lime and sul- 

 phur of proper strength, thoroughly applied to .the trees in the dormant state, 

 was likely to prove a specific remedy against this insect, and could be used with 

 confidence and every hope of success. 



This discovery ushered in a new era in fruit culture in all sections where the 

 scale had secured an entrance, from the fact that the spraying of the trees with 

 this remedy has not only resulted in clearing up the San Jose Scale, but has also 

 proved the mixture to be a most valuable fungicide, and in combination with 

 arsenate of lead it has become the standard spray for very many of the fungous 

 troubles, and insect pests common to the orchard. From this point of view, 

 the infestation of this insect cannot be looked upon as such a great calamity, from 

 the fact that through this circumstance better methods have been compelled, 

 and while many fine orchards, particularly a number of large apple orchards, 

 fell a prey to this minute but dangerous pest, the fruit industry as a whole is 

 to-day on a better footing than ever before. Constant vigilance and thorough 

 work is the price which must be paid, if this insect would be kept in check, but 

 given these conditions, no up-to-date orchardist to-day seriously dreads the San 

 Jose* Scale. There are many other diseases and difficulties to be encountered 

 in the prosecution of fruitgrowing, but the history of the fight against and control 

 of this insect is interesting and perhaps unique in many respects. 



The counties bordering on Lake Huron and the Georgian Bay, comprise 

 a very large territory in which the residents are largely engaged in mixed farming 

 as their principal occupation. Scattered over this area, however, are a great 

 many apple orchards, generally of moderate size, which until recent years 

 have not been receiving the care and attention which their value and importance 

 should have demanded. In consequence of this neglect, considerable deterior- 

 ation took place, and many of the orchards became unprofitable. 



EXTENSIVE EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN. 



This whole territory is now being brought under the influence of the cam- 

 paign, which is being carried on by the Provincial Fruit Division, under the super- 

 vision of the director, Mr. P. W. Hodgetts. Most remarkable success has been 

 attending the efforts put forth in a number of strategic points to renovate orchards 

 which had ben practically given up as of little value. For the past two years, 

 apples from these demonstration orchards have been displayed at the Ontario 

 Horticultural Exhibitions, which have evoked the most favourable comment for 

 their excellent quality and fine appearance. 



The attendance at the short course in fruitgrowing during the past winter 

 at the Ontario Agricultural College, was largely composed of young men from 



