Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-05-06
AGRICULTURAL.
MATTER PREPARED SPECIALLY FoR
THR RECORD UNION"
wash the Trees-fhects OF an Agri-
cultural Fair-Fires in the
orchards-Etc.

We last week described the method Of
trapping the larvR Of the codling moth on the
bodies or stems of trees by the use of strips
or bands of paper or cloth tied about the
stems This is but one Of the many means
that have been found of advantage in fighting
these little apple aud pear pests. We now
call attention to another process by which
the moths may be prevented from laying
their eggs in the small fruit and by which
every part Of the tree may be rendered
obnoxious to the moth, and thus much
of the fruit may be saved perfectly.
Perhaps the washing here described should, in
point Of time, precede the setting OF traps ex
planned last week, because the worms cannot
be trapped until they have been hstched from
newly-lsid eggs laid by the moths on the
small fruit, and until they have eaten their
way into such fruit and grown to fall size,
and then when they emerge from the fruit
and seek place to make cocoon they are
trapped in the bands around the trees. The
washing and sprinkling Of the trees IL to pre-
vent the moths from laying their eggs in the
fruit. The material to be used must be of
nature known to be distasteful or obnoxious
to the moths. Any wash that by experience
has been proven to keep the moths at dis
tance, and that is not injurious to the tree,
will answer the purpose. OF course a wash
that experience has proven to be beneficial to
the tree and at the same time will keep the
moths away from the fruit, il such can be
L. hIa to that will Op1v
keep the moths off and is of no benefit to the
tree as fertilizer. 1t is believed that a wash
that will answer both purposes has been dis
covered. This wash is strong soap
sud made of whale-oil soap, sulphur and
water. To this wash has been given the
name of codling moth wash, on account of its
superior excellence in cleaning out the moths
and in fertilizing the tree. The whale-oil
soap and sulphur can be OBJ aimed a. most of
the drug stores. With pound of the soap
and sulphur mix one gallon of water, and stir
well together till you have thick lively suds.
Then. having scraped the stem OF the tree, as
described last week, with an instrument
something like vessel or deck scraper, sp
ply they suds to the stem of the tree with a
white wash brush, and with a syringe or
small force pump spray the sGds over the en-
tire foliage OF the trse. When person has
an orchard of any considerable size, it will |
pay to rig up complete outfit for perform |
ing this work. For few trees, a common |
wash-tub, or even bucket filed with the |
sstis, and carried from tree to tree, and
good syringe to spray the tree with. will an
swer for the apparatus.
A good outfit for a large orchard, ia tub |
or tank holding from 80 to 30 sc 100 gallons /
or more, set upon cart or wagon. In tn |
tub set good orchard force pump with two
spoats or nozz ez. and hose attached to each |
spout. Having f led the tank with suds drive
il along between the rows of trees, and while
one man drives the team one may work the
pump, and another at the hose should direct
the spray upon the trees. With such an ou.-
fit large orchard can be fully sprayed in
single day. Those who have never sprayed
trees or shrubbery with this wash will be sur
prissd at the invigorsting influence it will
have upon them. The sulphur adheres to the
leaves, while the lye penetrates the tres
through the foliage and pores Of the bark ana
thus the whole tree is benefited and rendered
more vigorous and luxurisnt. The sulphur
and soap smell drives the moths away from
the tree and fruit, and keeps away other in.
sects-the red spider, the scale insects and
also kills all fungoid growths, as
mildew, both on the foliage and fruit. In
ordinary seasons this scraping of the bark
and washing and spraying should be done In
April, but the present season is so late
nearly month iate-that 1t will accomplish
the purpose if done by the 18th of May.
Frg;&Ill be in demand this year, and no
one should neglect the necessary precautions
TO save in good sound condition all he can.
L. will not do to delay longer, for the moths
will soon be flying and depOsiting their eggs
on the fruit, and when these eggs hsve once
been lodged there it will be too late to accom-
plish much good with the wash, so far as
driving away the moth pests.