The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-09-21

either use envelopes or write In
parable or cipher.
Parasitic Insects and Their Rem
edies.
From the Semi TTopic.
1t seems that the brown scale bug
which in iormer,years attacked citrus
trees only is now spreading to decid-
uous trees, and in some sections has
become a decided nuisance, II not an
actual enemy. However, we are free
to copfess that we do not share the
degree of fear OF its presence among
our orchards that seems to possess
other writers and growers. The rea-
son for this, though, may be found in
the fact that effective measures exist,
and if they are employed at its first
appearance it will not be difficult
task to subdue and exterminate this
pest. IN the first place, if orchardists
would wash and scrub their trees
every spring with soft soap and wa"
ter, using the soap freely, applying 1t
with a soft rag in the hand, reaching
high into the limbs and cleaning out
the crotches and removing all rough
bark or surface with a pruning knife,
the cry of scale bug, woolly aphis,
codling moth and other kindred In
sects would seldom;it ever, be heard.
So much to begin with, and the be-
ginning would be the end If applied
once or twice a year. In order to
reach the smaller limbs and branches
wash of concentrated lye, say a
pound Of I've TO a pail OF water adj
ministered by means of syringe or
force pump in thsform OF a light
spray will answer the purpose and
| kill every form Of insect lite. The
wash may be even stronger, but it
should be applied when the tree is in
dormant state otherwise it will eat
the foliage and tender growth and
the tree may suffer permanent injury.
Kerosene oil has been used in many
| instances with marked success; this,
too, as rule should be applied when
the tree is at rest, and the high test
| oil is considered more effectual ana
less liable to iniure the tree than the
crude petroleum. One advantage
the kerosene has over the lye is that
if OF the highest test it can be used
at any time during the year, but the
application should not be made while
either trunk or foliage is in any de-
gree moist from dew, toy or other
causes. The reason is this: When
kerosene strikes dry surface 1t at
once penetrates, but when it strikes
a moist surface the moisture sheds it,
as single sheds the rain. Tobacco
wash is another remedy which is
harmless to the tree and may be ap'
piled at any time of year. Two or
three pounds Of dried tobacco just as
it comes from the field, in a kettle OF
water over not fire for a few hours
will furnish enough wash if somewhat
diluted to spray several trees. Mods
erately strong soft soap suds may
also be used during the growing sea-
son, but its action will not be so pos
ltive as that of the former remedies.
The soap and lye have another virtue
besides that Of killing insects: They
are active fertilizers, they carry
large percentage OF potash; thus
while they relieve the tree externally
they administer to it strength and
growth internally. There is nothing
that will give a bright healthy, thrifty
look to tree so quickly and SO de-
cidedly as good washing with soft
soap or spraying with concentrated
lye. These iactshave been established
bejond "a doubt by careful, practical