The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1900-10-11
INTElsIEs Ting INSECT NOTES lsY
THE DEPAEgaENT OF
ENros,9ss.syEy.
KERosENEoIL TREATMENT
PestIs Gradually Recovering Frosn tn
Shock of the Appiication-How
and Whcnto Administer.
DEpARrMeNa De- ENrono1oaY.
ATLANTA. ca. Lrlv. 10O(

LIE DAN JOSE OSALE.-In1S pest Is
now gradually recovering from the
shock it received by the treatment to
Stand Oil cocktails" which flowed SO
freely through the infested orchards last
winter, i'll spite of the high price of this
oily article. The continuous rains of the
past month, however, have greatly re-
tarded the multiplications of the San
Jose scale and millions of the little crea-
lures have been brought forth into ex-
istence only to be quickly washed from
the trees and drowned. Meanwhile the
mothers, apparently realizing the peril
of their newly born young have decreas-
ed their daily quota of new lives and re-
hnquished for space their claim to the
most prolific animals in existence. The
estimate Of 3,216,0s0, 400 insects as the
annual descendants from one individual
female will fall far short this season,
thanks to the rains; sit is an i'll wind
that blows good to no one" But unfor-
tunately these rains have come at a
season when the fruit crop is at it's vul-
nerable point, and rot among the peaches,
induced by the damp weather, is doing
considerable damage.
Now that the fruit crop is being rap
idly removed from the trees, it behooves
every man who owns premises infested
with the San Jose scale to prepare for a
summer treatment. AS soon as the fruit
crop is gathered infested trees should be
sprayed with 10 per cent. kerosene in
mechanical mixture with water. OF the
two kerosene pumps now on the market,
one made by the Deming Co., Salem,
Ohio, the other by the Goulds Mfg. Co..
Seneca Falls, N. Y, the latter is more
reliable and the writer recommends it in
preference to the former.
Particular care should be taken in the
! use of kerosene as a summer wash, as
there is always more or less danger of
injury to the trees sprayed. Not over
10 per cent. should be used and the leaves
should not be left dripping. In om' ex-
periments with this remedy it was noted
that, notwithstanding great care, some
of the peach leaves were scorched
around the margins and when particles
of kerosene lodged on leaf it burnt lit
tie ''shot- holes" through it; but this
slight injury did not result in permanent
damage to the trees. Every part Of the
body and limbs should be thoroughly
moistened with the spray but no attempt
should be made to drench the leaves.
for the reason referred to above. 1t is
true that the scale occurs in great mum.
bers on the leaves as well as the bark of
the tree. but they cannot be satisfac-
torily destroyed by giving the foliage a
thorough spraying without doing con-
siderable damage. Furthermore, when
the leaves shed in the fall, and die, the
scale insects infesting them will like.
wise perish.
This summer treatment is by no
means sufficient. It must be followed
in the fall, rs soon as the foliage is shed,
by an application of 30 per cent. kero-
sene. The fall or winter treatment can
be applied much more thoroughly than
the summer treatment, as the foliage is
then out of the way. To obtain good
, results every portion of the infested tree
must be wet from the ground to the tips
of the twigs, but care should be taken
not to allow the kerosene to run down
and collect about the base of the tree
Last winter number of trees were kill.
ed by such carelessness.
Some growers with infested orchards
have contented themselves with one
winter spraying, and have, the write
will admit, succeeded i'll holding the pes
in check fairly well but to thorough,
control it another application of the 2
per cent. kerosene is necessary. Thi
spraying can be made with perhaps tn
greatest effect in the spring just befor
the trees come into bloom.
These annual sprayings make the treat
ment somewhat expensive; but, in tin
opinion of the writer, it is more expen
sive in the end to neglect one of them
when the loss by the ravages of the seal
is considered.
In connection with the use of kerosen
upon fruit trees the following empera
tives should be impressed upon the OF
orator:
Never use over 10 per cent. kerosen
in summer nor over 20 per cent. in win
ter for spraying peach or plum trees
Never allow the kerosene to run dow
the trunk of the tree and collect abop
the collar.
Never spray Oh a damp day but selec
fair weather for the work.
Be sure that your pump is always dis