The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-02-22
THE PEAR LEAF BLISTER MITE.

Ink PEAK LEAF Bills TER MITE.
This little animal has become seri-
Gus menance 10 the pear grower in many
arts Of the state. II has the habit OF
secreting itself Tor the winter under
The little scales which cover the leaf.
buds for the following year, especially
those buds which are at or near the
tips o. the twigs. 1t is therefore easily
Overlooked. intact impossible to find
without n glass and 80 Is constantly
being introduced on new stock into
orchards that were previously free from
II. with a good pocket maguifying
glass, the animal has the appearance
OF light yellow or vhitisb minute
wormlike object Just large enough 80
The general elongated shape can oe
iinde out, and in u warm room 1t can
ne seen TO crawl about. Out OF doors
unless the weather Is warm II remains
stationary. After once finding the
animal with a glass, II IL Is on u dark
surface IL can just be seen with the
naked eve, but only with difficulty and
eau not be distinguished from par
tiele Of dust. The number IN a single
bud may run up into the hundreds
but is commonly between ten aud fifty
rs soon IA the buds open In the
F'rlng. the little mite crawls upon the
unfolding leaf and buries itself IN the
tissue. entering from the uuder surface
Inside the leaf 1t makes little cavity
h. which II lives aud where eggs are
ss'on deposited. On the patching OF
tnese eggs, the Young mites usually
Migrate to the newer leaves at the tip
81 The branch on twig. where they make
their burrows and produce another
brood. There are several broods In
one season SO that the new leaves are
constantly suffering. Before the
leaves fall In aulum the mites migrate
ID the next years buds to pass the
winter.
tn, burrows OF the mite are called
listers At first they are whitish in
color, but soon become red and late in
e. season they are usually brown
l.ach Is about the size of the head Of
pm. There NAV be so many in a leaf
that they torch eRcb other ovrs great
part OF the surface. which is entirek
kilied In that part. but always there
arr parts Of the leaf where the scperate
r.wrd sports are diptinct. This dis
rnguishes the work ~ the the mite from
The pear blight In whsch all or part OF
the leaf turns brown. but NO small dis
tinct sports form
These mites II unchecked will usually
ruin the heathiest tree in two or three
YEARS. II some time happens that large
numbers Of them ARE killed of in the
winter on account Of unfavorable wealth
g. but this is only occasional. II has not
Yet been ascertained whether GOODNESS
or warmth In the winter causes them to
de
The only remedy At present known is
strong kerosene emulsion. and the only
time when u can be applied to do anv
good is while the leaves arc of the tree
IN the winter. A thorough treatment
Al this time is very effective. indeed al
most magical m It's results The emul-
sion should contain one fifth kerosene
and should be literally applied
The common formula for kerosene
emulsion Is aS follows:
Heat one gallon OF water to boiling
and disolye therein half a pound OF
eoap mot the cheapest grade) and while
san boiling hot remove from the fire
ana add two gallons Of kerosene Pass
the mixture throgh spray pump and
direct the stream back into the recep-
tacie with as much force as possible
This causes 1t to rapidly assume the an
uesrance OF cream Continue the
pumping i've OF ten minutes. or until
no kerosene separates at she top when
Il stands undisturhed for moment.
When made dilute with seven gallons
lore Of water aud II Is ready for use on
tie blister mite. For use on green aphis.
etc, II should be be Audited with seven.
teer TO twenty gallons Of water instead
Of seven
The expense Of the emulsion applied
as directed will amount, for materials.
1 about 5 cents for pear tree ~ to
- feet high. with large top and will
run down 70 fraction Of a cent on
young trees only set year or two
- NJ. ALDRIcH.
En,omoiogisf Idaho Experiment Station.