Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-08-21
THE CANKER WORM.
How to Exterminate tho Post with Paris
Green Solution.


Green Solution.
A correspondent says: "a am in
search of information concerning the
apple cankcr worm. My orchard has
been infested with this worm for two
seasons. Tho orchard consists of four
hundred trees, and would like to
find out how to combat them. Can
they be destroyed by solution Of
Paris greenp If so, how is tho best
way to apply it, and what Is tho cost
of tho apparatus, and what will 1t cost
10 keep them off of an orchard of this
kind for one season, and how Is the
solution madep"
There are really two species Of
canker worms, known as fall and
spring, but they resemble each other
very much. and, as both feed upon the
leaves, thcy are to bo treated practi-
cally alike. AS the female is destitute
OF wings. their distribution is not
rapid. depending upon their lodging
upon men and animals for transporta-
tion from one locality TO another.
We have known them 10 dcfoliate an
orchard for several successive years
without reaching orchards on neigh
boring farms. and we have known
them 10 defoliate portions Of an Or
chard for two or three years before
reaching other portions of thp samo
orchard.
For many years attacks on tho ver-
min were confined TO efforts TO pre-
vent the female from rs ascending tho
body Of the tree. Bands were tackled
around the trunks of tho tree in the
spring, and these were smeared with
printers ink. coal tar or other sticky
compositions, and frequ emily renewed
when dry. but occa sionally the female
would crawl over the mixture when
dry and hard. and SO propagate the
species. 1t was even beloved by somo
that the malo took the female upon his
back and flew over tho sticky barrier,
but that theory lacks confirmation.
Finally, q man with hundred-acro
orchard. fifty acres Of which were
badly infested, resolved TO try Paris
green. The effect was to clear tho
pests from the orchard.
An infusion mot solution, for the
poison is insoluble) of Paris goon in
water Is the weapon now generally
resorted TO by our bcst-informed or
chardists, not only TO destroy tho
canker-worm that eats the foliage of
our apple trees. but also to kill the
codlin-worm which pierces the fruit
with holes. One pound of Paris green,
mixed with one hundred gallons Of
water, and thrown in fine spray
over the leaves. will generally destroy
the lives of all worms that cat the
leaves moistcned with tho mixture
In spraying an orchard of 400 trees
our correspondent needs to have every
thing as handy as possible. Provide
n water-tight tank or cask, holding 100
or 200 gallons of the mixture, and
mount il on atwo-horse wagon. Pro-
cure good force pump, which will
cost from So 10 Sl2. with short hose
having nozzle attached that will dis
tribute fine spray To every 100 gall
Ions Of water add pound of tho
poison, and when pumping keep tho
we'll stirred 10 prevent tho
poison from settling to the bottom.
With two men in the wagon to drive
the team slowly, stir tho mixture, work
the pump and hold the hose, n small |
stream can bc directed above each tree
so rs to fall in fine spray. While it |
is essential that every leaf shall bo
wettcd, it is not safe 10 direct the |
stream long against ono spot as too |
much Of sthe poison will injure the |
foliage. But one side of a row of
trees can be sprayed to advantage at a
time, but aman. after becoming handy |
ut it ought to spray that about as fast
rs team would naturally walk. With
every thing woi oiking favorably. two
men ought to treat an orchard Of 400
.rces in day.
AT Lockport, in this State. thoy have
invented machine which, operated
by the hub of tho wagon whoel. works
hc pump and stirs tho liquid. With
such an arrangement ono man could
lrivo and hold the hose As there
may be some worms not Matched at
-he first spraying. 1t may be necess sary
70 repeat it in the course of ten days
,r two weeks, especially II rain
should intervene and wash of the
poison. Be careful not to allow a
wind to drive the spray in your face
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