Pests of the Pomologist,

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2456, 7 April 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

Pests of the Pomologist,

Tho following are the salient points as given in the Rural New Yorker of a paper read before the American Pomological Society, at Boston, United States of America, 011 the occasion of their tweutyfirst annual session, by Dr. J. A. Linter, the JSTew York Stato entomologist :— Tho increase of insect pests comes with the advance of fruit culture. In combating the pests we need the best skill of the chcinist, tho botanist and the mycologist, and their services are freely at our command in the persons of State entomologists, and the various scientists of the Agricultural Department at Washington and other places. The great production of fruit has lead to a vast Increase of insect pests. "In my childhood days," said lie, " the orange was a rarity,

peaches were scarce, varieties of apples and

pears were few. Now wo sent 3,500,000 dol. worth of apples to England last year. Why, a man said before a horticultural society lately that fruit was now so plentiful that unless iusects reduced the production

it would not pay to grow it much longer. But tho desire for wholesome fruit will never be lost eutirely. An tipple orchard at Greenpqrt on the Hudson River covers 300 acres. Two hundred years ago, not evon tho wild crab, tho hardiest apple in this country, existed here, honoe there were no apple infects. Insects were then obliged to wing their way many miles in search of food. But now they have the foliage, roots, trunks, fruit and blossoms everywhere, upon which they freely banquet. Look at the Colorado beetle—when confined to the native solanums it was restricted and wrought no serious injury. But when it began to feed upon the more nutritious speoies of tho potato family it increased so rapidly that nothing but

the timely discovery of Paris-green as a remedy prevented the utter extermination of this esculent. Another instance noted by entomologists during the last two years is that of tho small borer, which formerly lived only upon the peach and plum, but which now attacks the apple as well. High culture, enormous production and mussing in large areas inevitably promote plant diseases. Of the 200 species to infest the grape vine the downy mildew, the powdery mildew, the black roc and the anthracnose are among tho must destructive. Tl;o lattar. is comparatively a pew disease in this country, but one long known in Europe. It attacks tho vine and leaf. Then there are the peach yellows, peach curl, plum rot, black knut, apple rust, applo and pear scab, &c.

A vory remarkable new disease lias heen reporter! in California, called the "apricot disease." In the morning the trees appear in full health, about 10 in the forenoon the leaves become wi|ted and hang lifeless on the tree. In the afternoon the bark begins to shrink, and jn 48 liqurs t|ie whole tree seems shrunken

and dead. The disease works from the graft upward ; thus every year the grow th of perfect fruit becomes more difficult. The myriad insect hosts confront the

grower on every side, and claim his entire attention. Either the insects or the fruitgrowers must conquer.

Speaking of the numerous species he said: " Some insects confine themselves to certain plants, nnd will rather starve than partake of any other. The fluted scale insect has lately become very troublesome among citrus fruits in California. Its shell-like covering protects the pest from the arsenical preparations, which do not affect it. Its original food plant is believed to have been the acacia. It was probably brought to California in 1868 or 186!). It is proving particularly destructive to the orange in many parts of the State, and the fruit inspectors are after it. As this insect adheres to the plant rather than to the fruit, it is not likely to be brought to the East unless by the use of scions or nursery stock obtained from them. When the pests become fixed as now in California, it is

impossible to exterminate them ; all that can be done is to lessen their number. I believe this insect has not yet reached Florida. When it does the State will be doomed for the production of oranges.

He alluded to Arizona as a most pro' mising fruit country, not yet overrun

with insect pests, and having a larger area than new York State. He who does best with fruit hereafter will be he who knows best how to deal with the insect pests. The fruit grower should be acquainted with all the more common insects liable to occur in his vicinity, their habits and common names, and be able to identify them in all their stages. He should be able to distinguish between foes and friends.

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