Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-06-24
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Wash for Fruit Trees.

Wash for Fruit Trees.
A correspondent, E. G. Harvey, Lock
Haven, Pa, gives the following receipt
for destroying borers-insects which
penetrate the bark and stems of trees
which viii prove of service to many.
Sulphur has long been one of the main
ingredients in all washes for the de-
struction OF insects, and it is well known
that all insects which prey on vegeta-
ton, hate oils ard fatty matters. The
two together will make an excellent
compound, destroying, no doubt, the
scale and other insects, as well as the
borers, and will in no event do any in
jury to the tree
Being DESTROYS to benefit all such as
wish TO preserve their fruit and shade
trees from the destruction Of the borer,
mix in a suitable vessel L pounds
flower of sulphur, / pound hogs lard
Put on the trees in May or fore part of
June with stiff paint brush, every year,
six or eight inches up the trees down to
the ground This Will not remove the
borer already in the tree, but is certain
to prevent the borer attacking the trees,
if properly applied at the proper time
each year put on like a light coat of
paint.
The following is wash used by Viii
liam Saunders. of the Government Gar
dens at Washington Puthal Dushel of
lime and four pounds Of powdered sui
phur IN tight barrel, stacking the lime
with hot water, the mouth Of the barrel
being covered with a cloth; this is re-
duced 70 the consistency of ordinary
whitewash, and, at the time Of applica-
ton. hall an ounce of carbolic acid is
added TO each gallon of the liquid.
Mr.. Saunders says 81 generally APP
ply it III the spring, before the leaves
make their appearance, but [ am con-
v;nced that it would be more effective if
applied later; but then it is difficult to
do SO so when the tree is in foliage"
Mr. Saunders applies the wash not only
to the stem of the tree, but to some ex-
tent to the main branches.
The Apple Worm or Cooling nIoth Worm.
@. Y. Riley, State EntomoIogist of
Missouri, IN al article in the n. I.
Tribune, gives the conclusions of en-
tomologlsts as to the apple worm, with
which and it's work most eaters Of ap-
pies are on J too familiar.
He says 1t is two brooded over much
Of the United States. The first moths
make their appearance at the time Of
bursting Of the apple blossoms, placing
their eggs at the calyx end of theyoung
fruit. The worms from these eggs
leave the fruit in June, Ia the latitude
Of ST. Louis, spin cocoons in any conven-
lent shelter and produce moths in two
or three weeks which in time Law eggs
in the apples, from which worms hatch,
leaving the fruit again in fall or winter,
spinning cocoons, but not becoming
moths until the next spring. In no
case does the worm enter the ground.
When the eggs are laid, nothing will
save the apples in which they are laid.
Mr.. Riley is also positive that the moth
cannot be destroyed in any considera-
bic numbers by being attracted by
light or sweet liquids.
The only practical method of destroy
ing them IS to take advantage Of their
habit Of spinning their cocoons in the
first convenient shelter they can find.
A bandage around the trunk of the tree
furnishes such shelter and thus the
worms can be caught
OF all the bandages Mr. Riley thinks
those made of common straw wrapping
paper folded into strips two Or three
inches wide and fastened around the
tree with a tack are the cheapest Rag
bandages are good but not SO cheap.
Strips OF old sacking with strips of lath
nailed 10 them transversely SO as to
make wooden ring around the tree,
he thinks the best of all bandages, but
more costly.
The bandage or bandages should be
placed around the tree a month after
the blossoms havefallen. In two weeks
they should be examined and all cocoons
found destroyed, then four more exam
nations at intervals of II days, and one
at gathering of fruit in fall.
It is better to keep the trees from
loose bark and the ground free from
rubbish.
Ii this plan should be faithfully prac-
ticed by whole neighborhoods for few
years it would practically free such
neighborhoods from the worms.