Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-04-26
CHRONOLOGICAL.
OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
CONCERNING PESTS.
The Returns for Efforts to Extermi
nate Insect Enemies-Answers
to Correspondence


edly asked by fruit-growers who have not
given the necessary time TO the study OF the
injurious insects infesting orchard property
and its products. VIII it pay to expend
money. time and labor to fight them, or
will they disappear in time, as they came
without our knowledge or consent2 In
replv to this query we say, Certainly 1t will
nav 10 fight them; and we will add that
intelligent and thorough work will pay
larger percentage on the money so eXpend-
ed than can be derived from any other le-
ultimate expenditure in connection with
orchard property, where any portion of it
is infested by injurious insects, or where
Your fruit trees are in the vicinity OF or
chards so infested
Those who will defer any attempt to
eradicate them, believing they will disap-
pear by the interference of natural causes
or be destroyed by natural enemies may
be fortunate enough to live to witness a
fultillment of their expectations, but assu-
redly it has not been a profitable course of
action in the past. 1t is not practised by
the enterprising fruit-growers At present
and from past experience 1t is doubtful if it
will pay anything better than an Irish
dividend in the future. At least such eX-
perience as the California fruit-growers
have had is untavorable to the theory of
depending on hope deferred.
1t is gratifying to know that many proofs
can be given in support of our views in re-
latiOn to which is the most profitable course
for fruit-grOwers te pursue. Among the
many orchards that can be named, where
excellent results have been attained by the
owner or owners making an lnceSsant war
fare against insect pests a rule, rather than
the exception, may be mentioned the Oak
Shade Orchard, at Davisville thirteen
miles from Sacramento). This orchard
contains about $50 acres of land, planted
principally with pear, almond, apricot ana
peach trees; also grape vines, all OF which
may be said TO be in full bearing. Since
the insect pests first made their appearance
in the vicinity of this orchard in 1879,
every effort has been made to prevent their
spread, and the successful results have
been such that Webster Treat who is one
of the stockholders and the Superintend-
ent. is making more extensive preparations
for Summer spraying this season than
ever before. Our queriSts might ask Mr..
Treat the question, Why do you make
such additional preparations?' He will
answer unreservedlv, " Because it pays.
Let those who wish to get practical in
formation, in relation to protecting fruit,
and trees from injurious insects, visit Oak
Shade Orchard and witness the practical
preparations for the coming seasons cam
paign. They will find that the packing
houses. etc, in the orchard, have been
thoroughly cleaned. Return boxes are
commodity that are not kept on the
premises In the center of the orchard Is
placed a water tank of one thousand gal
Ions capacity; attached to this tank IS
horsepower, for pumping from well sunk
for the purpose OF supplying the necessary
water There are also two large kettles
and one square tank set in bTlCk-WOrk,
for the preparation of the solutions for
spraying the fruit, foliage, and on the trees.
Last Thursday a visit was made to Oak
Shade, ami when examining the fixtures in
course of construction, Mr.. Treat in con-
verSation said "Or orchard paid
larger dividend to the stockholders III 1888
than in any previous year and we propose
to use our best efforts to make still larger
returns this year. Visitors 10 Oak Shade
will readily understand that the sue
cess there seen is mainly attributed
to the protection from insect pests,
in securing the immense crop, especially
cure the pear crop of this orchard is, to use
a common phrase, " q bone Of contention
among shippers as to who Will capture 1t,
and at times even at greatly advanced
prices. We repeat, let those who remain
in doubt as to the utility of preventing the
spread of insect pests visit Oak Shade, and
other orchards where a similar good work
has been done and learn for themselves the
excellent results of practical work and then
they will conclude that II UjH pay to pre-
rent the SpreGd Of insect pests
THE PEACH MOTH AGAIN.
L. c. Gage. Lincoln, Placer county. writes
as follows:
This spring find my peach and prIne trees
infested by u small caterpillar | also find IN
young peach orchard, planted by my neghDoT,
that the terminal buds are infested by the same
pest Let me know If there Is second brood,
also remedy 50 that We can head them on.
Please answer in WEEKLY UNIoN.
Reply See last issue of WEEKLY UNION,
April 18th reply to George Woolsey, lone
also DAILY REcoRD-UNIoN of April 18th
and 10Th.
THE APPLE-BORERs.
J. NJ. Hastings, Auburn, Placer county,
writes;
- have Just purchased some land on which
there are 100 apple trees and ! find some Of
them are infested by bOrerS. am advised TO
put boxes around them, wash with I've etc.
Being "a novice in the business, write for in
formation.
Reply: The trunk and larger limbs
should be washed with whale-oil soap, or a
strong homemade soft-soap, mixed with
One-third their weight of sulphur The
mixture should be thinned with water UNI
til it can be readily applied with a brush or
mop Take a wire and thrust it in the
holes made by the borers in this way you
may destroy many Of the Larvae or pupe.
Repeat the washing every twenty days, I'M
til after the middle of July. This will pre-
vent the female from depositing her eggs on
the bark, and viii also be very beneficial to
the trees.
UNKNOWN AND KNOWN REMEDIES.
D. O. Dagget, Browns valley, Yuba
county, writes:
have a receipt to use chloride of lime, mixed
with fatty matter into paste, Tor painting Il
band around fruit trees, TO prevent insects rom
ascending them. Is there any danger OF lnJuT-
etfectual2 Answer in RECoRD-UNIoN.
Reply Chloride of lime IS made by pass
ing chlorine into chambers containing
hydrate of lime in fine powder, by which
the gas tchiorinel is cOpiously absorbed. !
am not prepared TO say that the application
of the preparation you mention would be
any detriment to the bark or cambum
layer of the tree; vet l would be afraid to
recommend its use. | do not think it
would bc Of much utility for the purpose
stated The preventive properties would
probably be from the smell or touch of the
chlorine, which would pass off in a short
time after being exposed to the air.
If YOU wish to prevent caterpiliars and
winglcss insects from ascending the trees,
take band OF thick paper eight inches
wide, and place il, on the tree close TO the
ground. iasten with piece of baling rope
or wire above the middle of the band ;
mound the earth around the bottom of the
paper, 10 prevent insects from getting under
the band. Take some coal tar mixed with
castor oil TO prevent it becoming hard and
spread around the upper edge of the band
two inches wide will be sufficient This
will prevent insects, caterpillars, etc. from
ascending the tree, and capture any that
attempt TO cross it. The tar should be re-
newed every three or four days
THE MUSICAL KATY-DtD.