The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-07-10
8be Farnt.
Insects.
THEIR HAUNTs, HABITS y H~URTFULNEss TO
PREVENTING EGG LAYING.

To nip the evil in the bud. has been the
study and desire of philanthropists ever
since the primal temptation. 10 secure
against the egg-laying of injurious insects,
is one of the ways.
The best, if not the only way to accom-
plish this, is to render the plants obnoxious,
so that the female insects shall pass by on
the other side.
Thus washing fruit trees, especially young
apple trees, with soft soap early in June,
and again early in July, keeps the borers
from egg LAYING, and this is most desirable
in orchard culture. Carbolic acid and
kerosene mixtures and even strong soap
suds, either of whale oil or common soft
soap, are valuable to repel the peach and
squash vine borers, the radish, onion and
cabbage flies, the cabbage butterfly, and |
have such reason to think that frequent
drenchings of an apple tree with strong
soap suds the past summer was an absolute
protection from the codling moth.
HOW TO DUST DIR SYRINGE PLANTS
For busting plants with Paris green,
hellebore, etc, there are several patented
machines, though | have yet to see a more
convenient or easily managed appliance.
than a simple bag Of muslin tied to the end
of a broomstick. To prevent waste while
filling, this should be placed in the vessel
WlllCu HOlUS TIC pONNcI, OF III SOLllc 0tucl
vessel-a corAnon milk pan serves admira-
bly,. To sift the powder on to the plants,
We have only to jerk the bag containg it,
above them, gauging the force according to
the amount Of the substance which it is de-
sired to apply.
To use the liquid mixtures or solutions in
a small way on low vines or shrubs, a COM
mon sprinkler with a finely perforated rose
serves well, and requires no expense, except
perhaps for a new nozzle, as the usual noz-
zles are too coarse. For Swinging trees,
shrubs, flower buds, and house plants, l
know of nothing comparable to the Foun-
tain Pump. This little engine is so easily
worked that a child can use, and yet will
throw a s ram twenty or thirty feet high.
NOXIoUs INSECTS.
Many insects if disturbed will fall to the
earth. Therefore if we jar the trees or
bushes which lodge the pests after placing
a sheet underneath, we may easily catch
and destroy them. BY this means the plum
c~urculio can be cheaply destroyed, and one
of our most valuable fruits saved from de-
struction. The grape c~urculio, the blister
beetles, and the rose chafer can all be
caught in a like way. In large plum or
chards it pays to have the sheet stretched
on to a frame in the shape of an inverted
umbrella, and carried by a wheelbarrow or
cart. A slit permits this to pass Immediate
ly under the tree. The jar must be sharp.
and to prevent injury to the trees or limbs,
spikes should be driven in, and these, not
the trees, should be struck with the mallet.
Some insects are wont to hide under
boards, chips or rubbish. The plum curcu-
lilo, early in the season, and the squash bugs
and cut worms are examples. Hence. if
chips be placed under plum trees in Nav
and June, they will be appropriated for
shelter and protection during the day, as
the insects are nocturnal and when thus hid
the curcuiio may be easily gathered and
destroyed. Neglect to gather them in be-
fore 4 o'clock in the afternoon, makes the
experiment only partially successful. as
some may have gone to the tree to be on
hand for the nights banquet.
Squash bugs are also nocturnal, and NAV
be captured by placing old boards or w1lted
leaves on the ground, among the vines.
The similar habits of the cut worm suggests
a similar trap. In this case some fresh
mOwn grass is better for a trap. This
placed in the cleanIy kept garden a few
evenings in succession before setting the
plants, will attract the marauders in Quest
OF the growing plants. The next dav the
grass may be removed, and the caterpillars
crushed. The successful practice of any of
the above methods makes perfectly clean
culture imperative in orchard and garden.
THE COOLING MOTH.
Many insects, when fulfilled, as larvae.
seek some crevice or other place of conceal
ment, IN which to pupate. This habit of
apple orm-larv of the codling moth
has furnished Us with the only successful
method yet practiced for its overthrow. If
cloth or thick paper bands be placed about
the trees-they may be fastened with tack
or string-these will, in the absence of rub
Dish about the trees and rough bark scabs
on the tree trunks, attract nearly every
larva that passed from the fruit. Some will
leave the hanging fruit and crawl down to
the band, others will escape from the fallen
apples and pass up the trunk ii. the band
is reached, when they will crawl under
meath, spin their frail cocoons and become
chrysallds. The bands should be in place
by June 20. Should be examined by july
~, and thus on every 10th day till August
l, and again after the fruit is gathered.