Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-02-18
Music by Miss Cowden.
Z. N. BERRY'S PAPER.
Insects and Diseases Injurious
Plants in Otero County.

Tho number OF insects which infiict
severe losses upon the horticulturist and
agriculturist is very great. 1t is inpor-
tnnt that the tiller OF the soil should
know how to contend md destroy any OF
the insect pests that may attack his crops
without the large amount Of time neces-
sary to study tho habits and remedies for
ouch species. To be sure this informa-
ton would be OF great service to him, but
it is not absolutely necessary in order 10
enable him to apply remedies cuccess-
fully, in the great majority OF cases.
Prof. Gillette says: Insects Rre all ami
mnls and quito similarly constructed,
nnd rs a rule, what will destroy one will
destroy another, il the application can be
properly made, though this is not always
tho cace. The insects which are most
injurious to plants and fruits are us fol-
lows:
Tho Goblin moth does more to destroy
! the commercial value Of the apple and
pear crop than all other insects combined.
The woody aphis is by no means new
or local pest upon the apple tree. 1t has
been complained OF in this country for a
chards in Fremont county are 30 badly
affected with them that they have almost
destroyed the life OF some Of the trees. I
am happy to soy that We have but very
few OF them in our county.
The grape Leaf hopper is another insect
TINT is doing considerable damage in
some parts OF this county. 1t is very
minute insect, not exceeding IN eighth Of
I'm inch in length, and il closely exam.
inod, without beng disturbed they will
be noticed thiclsly clusterod over the un-
der surface Of the leaves, busily engaged
in sucking the juices Of tho plant.
The rod spider is another insect that is
doing great deal OF damage in some lo-
calities. It works on the red raspberry,
apple and pear. have found them on
sweet peas and on tho Willows
Tho strawberry leaf roller have
found in several places and presume it is
not uncommon in strawberry plantations,
but only noticed when so abundant as to
strip the plants Of their leaves. In feed
ing il folds up tho leaves, drawing the
edges together with silken threads. md
then eats out the moro tender or pulpy
parts. Prof. Riley states that there are
two broods OF this insect during the year.
tho worms Of first brood passing through
their transformation on the leaves, the
moths appearing about the first of July.
The female moths deposit their eggs on
the leaves where they soon hatch and
the worms commence their work, but
those Of the second brood when coming
to maturity lnte in the fall, descend into
the ground, change to sPupae ! and and re.
spring. Owing to the habit these worms
have Of rolling themselves up in the
leaves they are somewhat protected from
destruction by either dry or liquid appii.
cation. Sweeping tho leaves with q
broom will disturb and destroy few,
but the most rapid method ofdestruction
is burning OFF the leaves aftcr the fruit is
gathered, or passing n heavy roller over
tho plants in time to destroy the second
or late brood in autumn.
Tho apple twig borer is doing some
dnmage. in tho apple trees, also in the
beetle attacks the apple tree in the twigs,
on which it works. Its mode OF nttack
is to gnaw into tho limb or twig at the axil
Of two twigs or OF q bud and twig and
bore downward or upward a short dis
tance, never more than an inch or two,
resulting in the death Of the part beyond
the injury. The pear and peach are also
nttaclsed in II similar mnnnor by the mn
ture beetles during tho fall OF the year.
Both sexes work alike and presumably
for finding winter quarters and food only.
The snowy tree cricket is another in
sect pest that prefers the canes Of the
raspberry as place to deposit it's eggs.
It will, however, deposit it's eggs in the
grape, peach md willow and other kinds
of trees. To get rid Of tho insect, gather
the egg infested canes and twigs in win
ter and early spring and burn them.
There is probably no disease OF frnit
trees 80 thoroughly destructive as pear
blight or fire blight, which attacks apples,
pears and other polnaceous fruits. Some
disoascs mny be more regular in their
annual appearance and more persistent
in their attacks on tho fruits mentioned,
but when it does appear pear blight
heads the list Of disastrous maladies. No
disease has so completely baflled ull ut
tempts to find satisfactory remedy, md