The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1897-04-15
KILLING OF FRUIT PESTS
Prof. Doane Of the Agricultural College
Tells Of the Best Methods.
A VALUABLE PAPER FOR ORCHAkDISTS
President Mckinley Has His Eye on
cuba and fla waii-Territoris Ex-
tension Ia the Past Has all been
Made Under Democratic RuIe.

Professor r. w. Doane of the. depart
ment OF botany and zoology, of the
Washington State Agricultural college,
recently issued a timely bulletin on the
insects that poster the farmers and ruin
their crops. After reviewing the various
kinds of insects and their propagation
and work, he has the following to say re-
garding the methods of remedying the
evil:
The beneficial insects do much to keep
many OF the injurious species under con-
troll but some Of the worst pests require
the constant attention of the farmer or
orchardist or he soon sees his crops bad
ly injured or totally destroyed. Some OF
the pests we can never hope to get en-.
tirely rid Of but by careful management
they may be kept in check so that they
may not 'eap the lions share of the har.
vest. The most important thing in
dealing with insects is to begin early.
Too often when pest makes it's appear
ance the orchardst waits for more con.
venient season to commence fighting it.
Meantime the insect has had chance to
lay its eggs or to perhaps produce anoth-
er generation thus increasing many fold
the number that must now be fought.
Until one understands how very rapidly
many insects multiply they can hardly
realize the importance of trying to get
rid of pest just as it is found in the
orchard or field. 1t is always much cas-
Ter and cheaper to prevent an insect from
getting a start in the orchard than it is
to fight it after it has gained firm foot
hold.
High cultivation not only makes the
tree or other plant yield it's best returns
but it is a we'll known fact that strong
healthy plant is not nearly as apt to be
attacked by insect pests as one that is
already weakened, or if 1t is attacked, it
is able to stand much more injury with
out the effect being shown in the crop it
yields. The first and best way OF fight
ing insect pest would seem to be then to
keep the plant in the very best condi-
ton possible by high cultivation, judi.
cious pruning, fertilization, etc.
Many Of our most injurious insects pass
the winter months under rubbish OF var
ious kinds that lies scattered over the
farm. II this rubbish is not allowed to
accumulate such insects are more likely
to perish during the winter. 1t will also
reduce the opportunities for feeding and
breeding and allow more thorough ap-
picaton of insecticides. In orchards
this recommendation for clean culture is
of especial importance. Many insects
breed and complete their development in
dead wood or fallen fruit, Others pass the
winter months or lay their winter eggs
upon the smaller branches OF the tree
If the orchardist would take the pains
to trim out and burn all the dead and in.
| fected branches and to see that all fallen
fruit was destroyed, there would be
little complaint from some Of the insects
that are now serious pests.
Many insects live only on one kind OF
plant and when not able to find this
plant they perish or are scattered so to
do little damage. This fact may often
be taken advantage OF by system of
crop rotation.
Many small plants, especially in the
garden, may be protected by screens or
other devices for keeping the pests away
from the plants.
Many insects may be killed or exposed
to their enemies by blowing the field late
in the fall Many of the wire-worms,
the eggs OF grasshoppers and other pests
are thus destroyed. Late blowing OF fall
low lands is especially important as there
are usually many insects in such fields.
Hand picking is the simplest way of
getting rid of many Of the larger insect
pests. Large caterpillars, like the to.
mato worm and the larvae OF other moths
are best fought by gathering them off
alter they have collected 10 their "tents,"
and crushing or burning them. In the
fall or winter the eggs of such moths as
the tussock moth are easily gathered and
destroyed.
Often insects may be found collected
in considerable numbers under loose
boards or boxes scattered over the field
If such places be examined occasionally
many injurious insects may he destroyed
The larvae of certain moths, as the cod
lin-moth, pupate in any sheltered place
they find on the trunk OF the tree. Ad
vantage may often be taken OF this habit
by placing a band Of burlap or other
substance around the tree under which
the larvae collect and where they may
easily be destroyed. The use OF lights in
the field to attract moths does not seem
to ue successful, at least in this state, al
though large number of the cut-w worm
moths may tAus be destroyed. The cod
lin-moths are not attracted to these
lights.
The most widely used and perhaps the
most effective method OF fighting insect
pests after they have obtained fcothoId
in he Onahaxd il The r,aa II