Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-11-08

DRY GOODS o.
Horticultural Inspector Kahn Writes
Of Insects and Insecticides.
1t is no more an experiment now
whether we can raise fruit in Otero
county and the Arkansas valley. The
pounds, boxes and bushels that have
been gathered speak volumes for the sue
cess of horticulture. But the question
is: Can we and will we protect the trees
sects? As yet there are but few to con-
tend with, but as the orchards grow older
if we take the experience Of older states)
they will show us that they multiply, and
that very rapidly. Hence we will have
to be on guard, watch every box and
empty case that is brought in at any ofour
shipping points, as these have been xhe
mediums that have already introduced
what we have. And now that old adage
save nine" To be a little careless in this
would be to lose the best paying interest
in our county. A good thrifty apple tree
at the age Of nine or ten years will bear
two barrels of apples. Those of good
quality will sell for "a, 80 per barrel, max
ing So per tree and 80 trees per acre
would make gross Of 1928, and much
easier cared for than crop OF wheat an
average crop Of which does not exceed %
bushels per acre which at As cents per
bushel will make 81 ,25 or but little
over the pr oduct Of one tree. On the
other hand, il we let the worms and in
sects destroy the fruit we might as we'll
SOW wheat and let other places reap the
reward OF our negligence.
We will first speak of the codling
mo tn, the one that is most felt in our
midst at present. It is not native OF
America being imported from Europe
large number OF worms OF the fall brood
do not leave the apples until they are
stored in cellar or barrels, this insect is
unayoidably introduced where ever ap-
Piles are shipped. The mature insect is,
as the popular name implies, moth, or,
as such insects are often called, miller.
Its description is: About two-thirds OF
the basal portion OF the antena wing
above is ashen gray. crossed by nu-
merous broken lines OF brown. Near the
outer margin Of the wing there is large
brown area occupying nearly one-third OF
the wing surface, within which are nu-
merous gold or bronze colored scales and
also a few scales that are entirely black.
The posterior wing is OF a dingy brown
color being lighter near the body. The
larvea or worm is too we'll known to need
description. All who have eaten ap-
pies have seen the apple worm.
The exact time at which the moth be-
gins to lay its eggs varies greatly owing
to the late or early spring, but it is safe
to say that egg laying does not take place
to any considerable extent until the
flowers have fallen from the late variety
of apple trees. The eggs are deposited
in the blossom or caylax end OF the apple,
and it has been estimated that each moth
deposits at least 80 eggs. Within few
days after the deposition OF the eggs, the
time dependent on the temperature, the
larvea matches. It feeds for a while
within the caylaI and then begins to bur-
row towards the core Of the fruit, within
and about which it feeds until fully
grown, when it gnaws an opening, u.s.
ually at the side of the apple, when it es-
capes and goes in search Of suitable
place to spin its..cocoon and transfer to
weeks later (about the first OF July here)
the moth OF the second brood begin to
appear which soon begin to lay eggs for
the second brood of the worms. This
brood does much more harm than the
first, unless the first, has been mostly de-
stroyed, III which case there are COR
paratiyely few moths to lay eggs for the
second brood.
Now for remedies to destroy them:
There are some natural enemies of the
larva such as insectiverous birds and
few species Of insect parasites. But let
us not wait and depend on them to do
our work. Now is a good time to begin
or as soon as the leaves are OF. Wash
the body and large limbs Of the trees
with one box of concentrated lye to three
gallons Of water. That will destroy all
that are secreted in crevices and under
scales Of bark, so we will have that maay
less to contend with next spring. Then
as soon as the apples are formed begin to
spray using one pound OF London pur-
pie or Paris green to $50 gallons Of water.
Then from the 10Th to the 25th of June
spray with 200 gallons of water to one
pound OF London purple, which will give
you at least rs per cent Of nice clean ap-
pies instead OF having 75 per cent wormy.
There nre some here now in that shape
detrimental to all Of us. If we once clean
up the orchards it will then be q small
matter to keep them clean, and our repu-
tation will be as good for fruit as it is
| for melons.
In our inspection we have only found
four orchards that are infested with the
codling moth, and we will be glad never
to have to write Of them again as this is
far the worst enemy we have to deal with
now. There are few borers and they
have only began in sun-scalded and
burned up trees. Two washings of lime
and sulphur will do them up in one
season. My inspection was too late to
find the effects Of the curcula, but we
know there are some as they affected
our trees some, but the trees being so
heavy laden, those that were stung and |
fell off were not missed. We sprayed |
once but that was just half enough. We
krxy md do, hiatt
Red spiders have done little damage |
but we think they can be easily destroyed |
by using a coarse spray nozzle and |
throwing water with great force against ,
them. There are many other insects that
have not come to our midst and we hope
never will.
J. G. KAHN.