1805 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
i 67 
THE SAN JOSE SCALE IN NEW JERSEY. 
DANGER FROM INFECTED NURSERY STOCK. 
Last summer, The R. N.-Y. informed its readers 
that the San Jos6 scale insect had found its way east 
from California, and that care must be taken in buy¬ 
ing nursery stock. This pest is new to Eastern fruit 
men. Entomologists and others at once sounded the 
alarm, and warned the public that the insect would 
do great damage if permitted to spread. It is com¬ 
paratively easy to exterminate the scale if prompt 
measures are taken when it first appears. For this 
reason, the entomologists made haste to locate the 
pest, and urged owners of scaly trees to take immedi¬ 
ate action. It soon became noised abroad that two 
nurseries in New Jersey had the scale on their trees ; 
and as this fact became known, intending purchasers 
of stock began calling upon us to “ expose” and 
“denounce” these nurseries. The R. N.-Y. recognized 
the fact that this is a delicate and important matter. 
The two nurserymen in question were not guilty of 
any wrong in acquiring the scale. They imported it 
on plum trees brought from California, and it spread 
through their nurseries simply because they did not 
know what it was until well established. It seemed 
to us more in accordance with business principles, as 
well as with the Golden Rule, under these circum¬ 
stances, to aid in quietly stamping out the pest rather 
than to try to injure the business of these two firms. 
Other people, however, saw fit to publish the names 
of the two nurseries as those of Wm. Parry and The 
Lovett Company. It was publicly charged that the 
Lovett Company have done practically nothing to ex¬ 
terminate the scale, and that those who bought trees 
of them were in danger of importing the insect. The 
R. N.-Y. took the ground that if these charges were 
true, the Lovett Company ought to be denounced as 
unworthy the patronage of the public, because they 
have had ample time to fight the scale. The charges 
were made in a paper which had made no investiga¬ 
tion of the matter, and which displays the Lovett 
Company's advertisement without a word of comment. 
After some correspondence with Mr. Lovett, we 
decided that nothing but a personal investigation 
would be of any value. Therefore, in company with 
Prof. J. B. Smith, entomologist of the New Jersey 
Station, the writer spent Washington’s Birthday at 
the nurseries. 
Prof. Smith visited the place last fall, and located 
the scale on a lot of apple and pear stock, then in the 
nursery row, and on some bearing trees. At that 
time, he advised cutting down the bearing trees, and 
treating the nursery stock with gas. We found that 
the bearing trees had been cut down and destroyed. 
We found satisfactory apparatus for treating the nur¬ 
sery stock. Prof. Smith found the scale on a consider¬ 
able number of young pear and apple trees that were 
heeled in near the house. Patches here and there in 
the rows were scaly, while others near by were free. 
As fast as these trees were found, they were cut down 
with an ax. At last Mr. Lovett agreed to chop out 
and burn the entire block— The R. N.-Y. to come and 
see the work done if desired. lie also agreed to destroy 
bearing trees near by. Mr. L. said he did not know 
that the trees were scaly, and would have sent them 
out if Prof. S. had not found the insects. 
The greater part of the nursery stock was at some 
distance from the house. They were heeled in, and 
Prof. Smith gave them a careful examination. He 
reported that they had already been treated with the 
gas, and that this treatment had killed practically all 
the scales on them. If they were treated again before 
being sent out, he would consider them safe. We asked 
Mr. Lovett if he would guarantee his trees free from 
scale. He answered, “No; that would not be fair, 
because I could not prove that my trees did not bring 
the scale into the orchard. It might be there before 
mine were set out, or it might come from elsewhei’e ; 
AN APPLE TWIG INFESTED WITH SAN JOSE SCALE. Flo. 55. 
but I could not prove it, and might be held responsible 
for the whole thing.” 
“ What are you prepared to guarantee ?” 
“ I guarantee to destroy every tree where Prof. 
Smith has found the scale. I also guarantee to give 
all these trees here a second treatment with the gas.” 
A peach nursery was visited, but no scale was found 
in it. A large share of Mr. Lovett’s stock is not grown 
in the home nursei’y at all, but is grown in western 
New York. An exact statement of the case is that 
Mr. Lovett did destroy bearing trees on which the 
scale was found, and did treat a large number of 
nursery trees. lie has guaranteed to destroy every 
infected tree on his place, and give a second treat¬ 
ment to those already gone over. If this is done, 
there will be little danger of importing the scale fx*om 
this nursery. This statement refers simply to the 
trees now in the nursery. What has already, been 
sent out we do not know. And now a word about the 
insect itself. These facts are given by Prof. Smith. 
The insect looks like a small gi’ay spot on the bark. 
Fig. 55 shows the general appeax*ance of a badly 
infested branch. The scales are really the covering 
under which the insect passes the cold weather. The 
pi’incipal fruits attacked are apples, peax’S, plums and 
cherries. It is more dangei*ous than the Codling moth 
because the latter attacks the fruit only, while the 
scale insect destroys the tree. It is really a louse. 
The insect cannot travel far, and in bearing orchards 
would not, of itself, spread x*apidly. It ci’awls upon 
winged insects, ants or the feet of birds and in this 
way may be carried long distances. On nurse i’y stock 
whei’e the ti’ees are crowded close together, the iusects 
can readily pass from one tree to another. 
For nui*sery stock, the best treatment is to expose 
the tx*ees to the fumes of hydi*oeyanie gas. The trees 
are put in an air-tight tent or box. One ounce of 
cyanide of potassium, one fluid ounce of sulphuric acid 
and three ounces of water are put into a bowl or deep 
plate and placed in with the trees—the whole being 
then covered up. The gas at once begins to rise, and 
displaces the air. The gas is death to all animals, and 
should not be breathed. One hour’s exposure to this 
gas will usually kill the scale insects. This is the treat¬ 
ment given by Mr. Lovett. The ounce of cyanide is 
for 150 cubic feet of air space. All suspected stock 
might well be treated in this way as it comes from 
the nursei*y. 
If the scales are found on a few ti’ees only, they would 
better be cut down and desti'oyed at once. In young 
orchards, a good stiff brushing will often remove most 
of the scales. On large trees, the advice is to prune 
off as much wood as possible and burn it. Then 
wash the trees with potash water, using all the potash 
that will dissolve. A month later, di-ench the trees 
with a spraying of kerosene emulsion. If the bark of 
the tree is rough, it should be scraped before washing 
with the potash. Bulletin 106 of the New Jersey Sta¬ 
tion (New Brunswick) gives full directions for treat¬ 
ment. H. W. C. 
BUSINESS BITS. 
Just drop a postal card to Williams & Clark Fertilizer Co., 81 
Fulton Street, New York, and get their free book on natural food 
for crops. 
Any one having hens will find it to his advantage to have the 
poultry supply catalogue issued by Johnson & Stokes, 219 Market 
Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
Fostite is used In place of the Bordeaux Mixture, to prevent 
mildew, blight, etc. It may be secured of seedsmen or of C. II. 
Joosten, 3 Coenties Slip, New York. 
Tiie Keystone corn planter drops seed and distributes fertilizers 
at the same time, and the name of the manufacturers, A. B. 
Farquhar Co., York, Pa., is sufficient assurance of its being first- 
class in every way. 
For a real good, cheap roofing for buildings, Swan’s Standard 
rooting will be found satisfactory. It is durable and made iire- 
proof. It is used a great deal for covering leaky shingle roofs. 
Mr. A. F. Swan, 38 Dey Street, New York, will send descrixition, etc. 
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w’ooi'n HARROW 
A Wonderful Improvement. 
_ua 
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Our New Steel Frame 
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For simplicity, neatness, 
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„ _ — —^_J’Tlin-.hliers.Engines, 
nd aUkinds of Agricultural Implements. Sold bv all re- 
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mreoods Agents wanted in unoccupied territory. Gata- 
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Entirely of Steel No castings to break. 
Strongest and simplest Lever Arrangement on 
the market. Write for descriptive Circular. 
RODERICK LEAN MFC. CO. 
No. 16 Park St., MANSFIELD, O. 
SIZE US UP 
IN FIELD.write 
FOR FREE CATL’G. 
PRICE RIGHT. 
G.H.WARRANTS HARROWS 
"'POUNDER 
HARROW 
& P0 UNDER PAYS THE FREIGHT. 
G.H.POUNDER.N?, 22 ft.atkinson.wis. 
ZSgff.Tgjsa—i 
—li.B : )l 
. ~ }/ ccc a.s T J ' 
fi liilllll 
ItlllSill 
MMplffjflBf p 5 
-ONE DAY’S SHIPMENT. 
wm m 
ZOO LBS 
my* trade 
IlAKE ER| 
* m. ' 
Fish guanO- 
MARK. 
U ANALYSIS: H 
Available Phos Acid.— lO'l? 
, insoluble Phos Acid —\ 0 
flwamonia. .2 2 &§ 
MANUFACTURED by 
“JK JARECKI CHEMICAL Cm 
The above cut was made from a photograph taken of 
a train of 42 cars, which left our works on 
August 30, 1894, for North Vexmon, Indiana, 
loaded with our various brands of 
Fish and Bone Fertilizers, 
and was undoubtedly the largest single shipment of 
Fertilizers ever made in this or any other country. 
We have a complete line of eight brands for 
all soils and crops. Also manufacture and 
deal in Agricultural Chemicals. 
SEND FOB NEW ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE. 
1BACC0& Potato! 
FOOD 
-ANALYSIS • 
immonia.2 3 %; 
Available Phos Acid.. ..6 7 >• H 
Insoluble Phos Acid.1-2 1 
Potash.3 
manufactured by 
Jarecki Chemical 
USK’ 
RESPONSIBLE AGENTS WANTED IN TERRITORY NOT TAKEN. 
THE JARECKI CHEMICAL COMPANY, SANDUSKY, OHIO. 
