The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-05-25
RAvAcES OF INSECTS.
How to Apply Insecticides SO as to Sc
cure Satisfactory Results.

How to Apply Insecticides SO as to Sc
cure Satisfactory Results.
Considerable interest has developed
lately on the subject of applying insec-
ticides, and it is very opportune. The
pressing need of better understand
ing of methods for successfully resist
ing the ravages Of our insect enemies
crowds upon US with increased vigor
as the recurring seasons increase the
number and rapacity of the foe. 1t
has been very evident (to close OBJ
servers at leasD that great part of
the work done. especially in the use of
poisonous compounds, has proved of ac-
tual damage; that is, the insects them
selves would not have done more harm
if left alone than the misuse of poison
did. A treatment for insects that may
do very well in a growing, productive
season is liable to do great harm to the
crops in an unfavorable one. To apply
poisons effectively (without doing in
jury and cheaply, is equally of impor-
lance.
After quite an extended experience
in using insecticides in nearly all
ways, / have decided that there is only
one way in which satisfactory results
can be reasonably expected every time,
and that is by spraying. Poisons should
be used in liquid form always, and in
applying to the foliage. to insure sue
cess, it must be broken up into fine,
misty spray, like fog or steam. To ac-
complish this desired result. there is
nothing yet made to excel the spraying
machine. 1t is built on simple, me-
chanical principles, and the amount of
the application can be guaged per-
fectly. BY the aid of one horse Cor
team) and man. this machine operates
on four rows of potatoes at time, de-
livering fine, misty spray with force,
penetrating every part of the plant and
thoroughly impregnating the foliage
with poison (but not drenching), so
that if the Larvae feed on any portion
they must get the poison. The danger
of burning the leaves is greatly les
sened. In fact, the plant can hardly
be harmed if ordinary care is taken. [
have sprayed eighty acres of potatoes
in three days, using only $3.50 worth
of London purple, and in thirty-six to
| forty-eight hours after the poison was
put on hardly slug could be found
alive. The expedition and economy
with which poisons can be applied in
this way enables the grower to use
weaker solutions often, and thus
obviates all danger from doing harm
to the growing crops.
The Colorado bugs babe fair to give
us the most trouble we ever exper-
fenced during the dry season of 1887,
yet by two timely applications of Lon
don purple by spraying, we succeeded
in almost totally destroying them,
without apparent damage to any part
of the crop, at cost of less than so
cents per acre, including labor and
poisons for the two jobs. saw great
many fields of potatoes that were al
most ruined that season by applying
| poisons in a careless manner, both in
liquid and powder form. When pota-
toes bring Is cents to 81 per bushel at
harvest time, it is poor policy to ruin a
crop by being short-sighted in any way.
| Wetting or drenching the vines with
water alone during dry, hot weather is
a dangerous experiment, and when the
water is Incorporated with active
poisons and applied in a haphazard
manner, it is most sure to do harm.
The whole business of mixing and ap-
plying insecticides should be done in
systematic and methodical manner.
Guess work will not pay. AS Prof W.
E. Atwood has well said, in his station
report on Insects and Insecticides:
LACK of eXactness in the details often
defeats the purpose of work with in
secticides." Defeat is the price of
carelessness or ignorance.-Cor. Ohio
Farmer.