Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-05-24
KANSAS ORCHARD AND SHADE
TREES BEING RUINED.
HOW TO FIGHT THE PESTS.
SPRAYING WITH ARSENICAL POISONS
RECOMMENDED.
other Methods for Their Repression
Suggested - Presence of the
Worms COnfrOnts Western
HOrticuIturists with n
Grave Problem.

Manhattan. Kas., May 23.-(SpecialD
From many points in the state come re-
ports of the ravages of the canker worm
in orchards. In some places. the worms
attack the shade trees as well, being par
tial to the elm. while devcting a portion of
their time TO the blackberry. Some of the
elms in isolated parts of the Agricultural
college grounds We're badly infested, and
Utmost stripped of their foliage before the
presence of the pests in considerable num-
bers was discovered. Vigorous spraying
has been in progress for some days and
so effectually has the work been perform
ed that there is scarcely worm TO be
seen.
The worms have attacked Sarber's grove
Of native elms, just across the Blue river.
in formidable numbers, and have wrought
almost irrepardble injury TO the fine trees.
Their presence In such alarming hosts in
this grove is doubtless due to the fact that
no effort was made TO check their depre-
datiOns last year when the up-to-date hor-
ticulturist was busy with the spraying ma
chine. In orchards thoroughly sprayed
last season, the inrOads of the pest are not
so apparent, one or two sprayings this
spring being found sufficient to clear the
trees of the worms.
In the advent of the canker worm, West
ern Orchardists are confronted with grave
problem which. if they would save their
trees, they must at once set about TO
solve. Left alone, the pest multiplies rap
idly, and it is only question of a short
time until the trees of neglected orchards
will be defoliated, and eventually killed.
Professor Popenoe, entomologist of the
Agricultural college, gives timely advice TO
orchardists who would combat the pest.
He says: The treatment consists in spray
ing the trees with arsenical poisons. either
Paris green or London purple in the pro-
portion of a quarter of a pound to a barrel
of water. the scading of the leaves be
ing prevented by the addition of a little
quicklime TO the mixture. In using the
lime, it should first be Stacked and dis
solved in water, and strained into the pOis-
on mixture through a bit of gunnysack. TO
remove the unslacked particles and other
material that would otherwise impede the
working of the spraying nozzle. A pint
may be added in the same way to increase
the adhesion of the liquid TO the foliage.
If one application be found insufficient
second or even third should be made. as
IT is important to complete the distruc-
tion of the worms, if possible, this year.
that they be not left to finish their trans
spring to renew the attack.
AS is the case with very few other
species of the measuring worms the adult
males and females of this are so different
IN form that their specific relationship
would not be suspected. The male is a
slender bodied. broad winged little moth
Of wavering fight, OF general color dull
gray. the wings transverseIy marked with
bands of lighter and darker of the same
color, while the female is quite without
wings. with the body broad. almost ovate
of the same dun gray as the male and
with a dOrsal stripe of blackish color. L
have noticed the delicate male moths fly
Ing in twilight in the cool evenings of late
fall and especially in very early spring for
several years past. more abundantly the
present spring than ever before. At the
same time the females may be detected |
Clinging TO the trunks of the trees which
they ascend by walking for the purpose
of laying their hundred or more eggs upon
the bark of trunk or branches. The eggs
hatch as the buds burst and the SPAN
worm larvae begin their destructive work. |
When full grown, the larvae make their
way to the ground, which they enter. |
Transforming to pupae, in which state
most of them pass the winter there being
but a single brood during the year.
From their habits. as outlined, several |
drawn. In the first place. the well tested !
methods Of preventing the ascent of the
tire, by the female demands attention. A
bread, Closefitting paper band placed upon |
the trunk and kept smeared with some
sticky substance. as printers ink. tar, etc, |
captures the climbing moths until the
band is bridRed across by the bodies of |
those entrapped. when the application |
should be renewed. The moths then lay
eggs below the bands, which afterward |
must serve to prevent the ascent of the
newly hatched worms. Another highly |
successful method is reported from a
southeastern cOunty-banding the tree
trunks with split cotton batting, the fluffy
loose and rolled outward to overhang, the |
lower edge being tied closely to the trunk
of the tree. In attempting to crawl over
the cotton band. the moths are entangleI
and are thus unable TO reach the trunk
above"