Fruit Pest Exterminating Company

From Packing Houses of Santa Clara County
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Summary
Business

Manufacturer
Main Location

San Jose, CA
Active

1892

The Fruit Pest Exterminating Company was an insecticide manufacturer in San Jose in the 1890's. Little is known of the company, except that they were selling both Professor W.H. Brown's insecticide, and a new process for whitewashing[1]. The company's charter was forfeited by 1906[2]. According to December 3, 1892 California Rural Press: blockquote> "A company has recently been organized in San Jose, known as the "Fruit Pest Exterminating Company," with a capital stock of $10,000. Directors are W. E. Ward, G. W. Sill, J. R. Roberts, Henry Singleton, Henry Booksin Jr., A. Miller and F. C. Struvy, The purpose of the company is to manufacture and sell Prof. W. H. Brown's Insect Exterminator. This preparation for spraying trees and plants has been tried by careful and practical orchardists in many places, and under various circumstances. Judging from the numerous testimonials (one or two of which are annexed), this pest killer has succeeded where others have failed.[3].

"Santa Clara, Cal., July 1, 1893. I hereby certify that Prof. W. H. Brown sprayed a prune-tree that was badly infested with brown apricot scale, hatched and on the leaves. His spray, whatever it might be, began to show its effects as soon as dry. After three days, I have this day examined many leaves and do not find a live scale. One twig on another tree, all of which was affected with live scale on the leaf, was sprayed and the same results found on the leaves of that twig. The woolly and rose aphis immediately yielded to his treatment. Very respectfully, etc., PHILO HERSEY, President West Side Fruit Growers Association, Santa Clara Valley. San Jose, Cal., August 4, 1892.

"To Whom It May Concern: This is to certify that yesterday I had various tender plants and hardy evergreens, such as assorted palms, oleanders and coleus, treated with Prof. W. H. Brown's Insect Exterminator, and to-day all injurious insect life is destroyed, and without injury to any of the plants whatever. R. D. FOX, Proprietor Santa Clara Valley Nurseries.

"The company's office is at 33 Fountain St., San Jose. For particulars address Henry Baoksin, Jr., manager."

Brown actually printed his thirty-five recipe in "Plain Facts for Farmers, Horticulturalists, and Gardeners"[4].

Locations

References