Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1896-09-18
Remedy for Cabbage Aphis.

, Inc CaDDaSe AphlS has been un
usually troublesome this year
. 1t is to be found in large numbers
on cabbage, caulifiower, rutabagas
and kohl-rabies. July 25, about
one head of cabbage in twenty was
badly affected; where unmolested
they have multiplied until now
nearly every head in the garden
is covered.
The absence of any reliable rem
edy led to an extensive series of
experiments at this station in
which powders and noxious gases
as well as liquid preparations were
used.
The more frequent occurrence
of the insect on the under side of
leaves makes the use of powders
impracticable and no good results
were obtained from the use of a
dozen different kinds.
Carbon bisulfde, sulphur fumer
and tobacco smoke were applied
with modified gopher extermina-
tors without results. Their use
would be impracticable at any rate
because it would take too much
time.
Soap solutions, tobacco decoc-
ton, quassia and soap decoction
and Kerosene emulsion were found
to be effective.
Kerosene emulsion is the rem
edy generally recommended for all
soft shelled insects and as far as
we know is thought to be the
proper thing for cabbage aphis. If
not used too strong no injury will
be done to the plant, but it does
not stick as good as soap alone. 1t
should not be applied stronger than
one part of ordinary stock solution
to twenty parts of water.
Quassia dccoction made bv boil
ing one pound Of quassia chips in
water one hour, straining and dill
utlng up to l24 gallons will kill
where it strikes, but like water ii
has poor sticking qualities when
applied to cabbage.
A quassia and soap decoction
was also used with good results.
Tobacco tea made by boiling one
pound of dust in water, strainine
through q muslin sack and dilut-
ing up to two gallons is good.
The remedy we recommend be-
cause of its cheapness and effect
iveness is one pound of hard soap
to sixteen gallons of water, or one
ounce to one gallon. Dissolve one
pound of soap in three quarts of
water by heat and dilute to sixteen
gallons. If hard water is used add
little soda to it. 1t sticks much
better than kerosene emulsion.
OF course a good quality of hard
soap Zone that breaks when cut is
best because of its superior gela-
timing property but a cheap rosin
soap may be used. The soap So
luton cannot be applied with a
sprinkling can. 1t should be ap-
piled in fine spray with a good
pressure.
With a fine spray sixteen gal
Ions will be sufficient for two hun
dred or three hundred half grown
heads of cabbage. One man can
treat head thoroughly in one or
two minutes. The expense, in
Guiding labor will fall below one
half cent per plant.
In the labratory some prelimi-
nary tests were made in order to
find out what would kill the lice
when immersed in the different So
lutions of different strengths. A
few of the more interesting results
are here given:
% NITRIC ACIp. The strong
est used was one part of the CON
centrated acid to one of water. A
piece of cabbage leaf was placed in
this and it required fifteen to TWEEN
ty minutes to kill the lice.
CD AMMONIA. One mari
stronger water ammonia to three
OF water stupefled them for awhile |
after an immersion of five minutes
but do not kill. A solution ofone-
half per cent. caustic soda SPRAYED
on in the field had no effect.
(3) GASOLINE. Kills in one or
two seconds but of course will kill
the plant also.
c. p. Fox,
Director Ag'l Station.
X. G. EGBERT.