The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-04-13
Throwing off the Lethargy
Caused by Winter.
POINTS FOR FARMERS AND OTHERS
Where the Eggs of Destructive Insects are
Deposited They May Be
Found and Destroyed.

SHOWS are now bursting into newness
of existence with a vigor that speaks of
youth and life to come
Seeds that have been buried through the
season of cold under friendly layer of rot
ting leaves, or wrapped Id a snug coat of
soil, now put forth their shoots to snuff the
air Of spring and dip their rootlets into the
earth in search of food. Buds that have
given no evidence Of life through all the
dark days of the year, now swell and soon
Will burst from the expanding of life
force which cannot be restrained. The
peach blossoms are already appearing in
their fresh garb of pink, and before long
they will put on their tiny golden orna-
ments-the plStils and anther5 of the flow
ers; then they will be prepared TO receive
visitors, and these will mol long delay their
calls. The bees and their kindred will soon
blgln the seasons festivities, and among
them the pretty peach blows are in high
favor as pleasant hostesses; the insects
like TO visit them, enjoying the delicate per-
fume of the blossoms, and drinking the
rich nectar, with which the fragile chalices
will soon be richly supplied. Numerous in
sects are now recovering from the lethargy
and torpor of the past, and most of them
awake with an appetite begotten of long
fasting.
Now, too, should the farmer and the hor-
tlculturalist look well about them; for at
this season they can take by surprise and
easily destroy many foes to their crops
Every fruit tree should be thoroughly eX-
amlned for eggs and larvae Of insect pests,
IRON the ravages of which the orchards and
bineyards OF y tab have frequently suffered
much. After the insects have reached the
adult stage, with wings fully developed,
the task of capturing and OF destroying
them in numbers, is almost hopeless one;
then too, they are liable to deposit their
eggs, and thus originate increased trouble
Tor the succeeding season. They can be
successfully overcome only while in the
egg, or at latest while passing the earlier
stages of larva or pupa. Loose pieces of
bark upon the tree trunks furnish enucng
quarters for many varieties of insect life.
and all such hooks should be carefully
searched during the present month and the
hidden foes destroyed.
The peach horer is a common and des-
tructlve creature; the larva, as a tiny dull
colored grub, may be found beneath the
bark near the base of the tree, frequently
ust below the surface of the ground.
Scrape away the soil around the trunk. and
if the bark be at all loose or discolored, re-
move the affected parts, and kill the grub
A wash consisting of a weak alkaline solu-
ton, such as soda or potash in water, or
even thin milk of lime, will usually prove
fatal TO the larvae If applied to them in an
exposed condition.
The currant borers are tiny light colored
grubs, each with brownish head and dark
tinted legs. These little fellows effectually
bore the stems and branches of the currant
shrubs A thorough examination of the
bushes should be made, and all affected
parts cut off and burned.
Apple tree borers of many species are
numerous, and some of them are very de-
Tho Estiat hn11 n ,.,,o,,. 4
the ''round- headed horer'' are commonly
known. and their names well express the
Distinguishing features. The eggs of the
fat head borer are usually deposited be-
meath loose bark, and the larvae when
Matched, burrow their way into the woody
parts of tree. The grubs are of pale vel
low color, and their presence is usually in
dlcated by dlscoloration or a breaking off
of the bark. Take away the bark so af-
fected and wash the tree with solution of
soft soap, or in the absence of such, with
strong soap suds. Let the treatment be re
peated several times during the early
spring. The adult or image form of this
insect is a beetle of dark green color.
Tine larvae of the round-headed apple
borer are whitish maggots, plump and
teshy in appearance, with comparatively
small orown-colored heads. They infest
many varieties of trees, among which ap-
pie, pear and ounce are favorites They
year, just as they are preparing their bed
rooms for the winter nap.
A wide range of insects known as bark
lice, most OF them very injurious to plants,
may be killed by thoroughly washing the
trunk and spraying the branches with a
mixture OF thin whitewash and kerosene
oil. A good preparation is in the proper
ton of one gallon of milk of lime ard one
pint of kerosene. Treatment with this
should be repeated two or three times al
intervals of several days.
The pupae or chrysalides of the codling
moth may be found in numbers beneath
the bark of apple trees In very short
time, these will develop into the moths
proper, small glistening creatures, very
beautiful indeed as subjects of microscope
cal study, but detestible in the eyes of the
fruit raiser. While the apple fruit is very
4 young, before it has passed the blossom
stage in fact the moths deposit therein
their eggs, from which the grubs soon
hatch: these then eat their way into the
core Of the fruit, effectually arresting its
development. The chrysalides should be
hunted from their hiding places and killed
without mercy; then the trees should be
treated with wash of I've, soap, or lime
water
1t should be remembered also, that these
injurious insects attack, by preference
plants Of weak nature and poor cultivation
jud.cious pruning, and proper fertilizing
OF the soil ABOUT the tree, will do much tt
secure immunity from these pests.
The eggs of destructive insects should
also be sought at this season. Those of tn,
tent caterpillar may be found on thC
twigs and small branches of many
plum. cherry, peach, and ounce in
cluded. The eggs are deposited in en-
clrcllng punches like collars about half al
inch IN length. and are protected by {
gummy secretion rendering them prac
ticaily waterproof All the twigs thu:
adorned should be cut off and burned. The
empty egg collars, the remains Of preced-
ing broods, may be easily distinguished
from the filled shells. This is the time too
when the housewives should search their
Warorobes and clothes closets for tine;
the destructive clothes moth
Now also the farmer will encounter
great many insects which are really friends
To him In his labor, and he will do well Il
make their acquaintance, and to extend Il
them ms fullest protection. Nearly all tn,
ground beetles, the carabidsp family, prey
on insects injurious to crops Most o
these beetles are of dark color, exhibit
ing FURNISHED or metallic hues. Thei
larvae are generally called maggots
They usually remain on the ground, though
occasionally they ascend the trees in searcl
\ OF the caterpillars there to be found. TIL
~ pretty ladybi beetles afford to GU
orchards and Hover shrubs great protec
ton, destroying the hosts of plant lie
which make their presence so disastrousl,
apparent
We have indeed both friends an
enemies among the insects; let US lear
to know both, and treat each class as
deserves. j. E. TALMyGE.
THE vIRTUOUS GANDER.