The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-14
VERMIN.ON THE VINES
Growers Differ as to Whether
or Not 1t Is the Hop Louise.
THE TURNING POINT IN HOPS.
Effective Spraying 10 the Oaiy Safe
guard Against Inseet Fesss-TAs
Plants In Yards Climbing.

PrrsLIuP, May 13.-YSpeciA AN the
hop growers are searching diligently for
hop lice, and so'ae hare succeeded well
enough 10 find them upon the young hop
leaves. bat whether il IL the real hop
louise there is difference OF opinion. The
Meekers say that the vermin is the genu-
Inc pest. while ]. Fernandez and some
Others think il is no. the louise AZ ali. bat
an inoiisnsive insect which Prof. Riley at
Washington City classified last year. The
insect referred 70 last year appeared IN the
earth q; the root as we'll as on the leaves Of
the plant, but so far as investigation
has gone the insect found this year is not
in the soil. Ezra N. Meeker says ne
found the lice on the plum trees in the
western part of town, and others say they
have seen the III. Mr. Meeker says the
hop lice appeared last year on April II,
whereas they were not seen this year un-
I'll May 10.
1t has been noticed and spoken Of by
many growers that the hops turn quickly
from comparatively fair hop TO worth
less one and NJ. j. Meeker has noticed that
the turning point has come earlier each
year since the appearance of the hop louise
on this Coast. The first year the turning
point came on September p. That is. on
the oath the hops were picked and were as
bright and firm as could be while those
left over night were found to be black and
almost entirely unit for picking. In fact
many poles were thrown out entirely as
worthless when the day before they were
= good. The year before last the turning
point came on September II. and last
year it came in the last days Of August.
Mr.. Mceker's theory is. should this occur
the same this year, it might come before
the burr was sufficiently formed for the
lice 10 do the injury. Mr.. Meeker has
had some experience with the red spider
on the hop in California, and he says the
effect Of lice on the vines is different from
that produced by the spider, as vines at
tackled by the latter will not blossom at
all, or at least the blossom will be sickiy
and will not mature. whereas he thinks
the lice do not specially injure the vine
until they enter the burr. and the ones
that enter are not the large ones, but are
the little ones that can be scarcely dis
tinguished with the naked eye. But he
sprayer and ingredients for his
emulsion which hL will use, IS
it is the small young ones
that must be killed, because after they are
grown it Is impossible TO kill them with an
emulsion that is not injurious to the vine.
Persons who have given the subject the
most study. who understand the pest and
its ravages AS we'll rs this can be under.
stood. and who have the ultimate success
Of this country in view. are much pleased
with the feeling exhibited among hop
growers, which produces sensible, busi-
ness-like actions and methods among
them which is nearly. if not quite. univer-
sal to make early and ample provision for
a complete system Of spraying. which will
annihila,e all obnoxious vermin and pro-
duce crop of hops Of which
Washingtonians need not be ashamed.
In the last two years growers have not
accomplished the best results because Of
lack of understanding of the habits Of
the vermin and the urgent need Of exter-
minating them in order 20 save the crop.
and therefore our hops h3ye not been 4
cretii, To Washington since the appear
ance of the vermIn. But from all ind;ca-
tons this year our hops vii! grow better
from now on. Every grower cannot raise
a perfect crop this wear because of neglect
in the past two or three years which has
weakened the root. IL nothing worse, but
every grower can raise a better crop this
year than last, and in time to come. by
patient. unceasing efforts, raise as good a
crop OF hops as was ever raised in Wash
ington.
Ezra NJ. Mceker reports the hops a;
Kent In the yards of the Puyailup Hop
Company to be as high as his head and
trained once. Many others are through
training the first time. N. J. Mecker has
! twenty-five acres finished.
w, Meeker will take charge this year
! of The Fernandez yard.