The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1901-03-28

worm were according to the plan adj
voca,ed by leading horliculturists
| but he was too slow aud began his
! fight too late III the season. After
applying the spray he was delighted
to notice that the worms had en-
:ircIy disappeared and he boasted of
his good fortune in Kidding his trees
of the despoilers. What WAS his SUR
prise the following spring to notice
that his trees were covered with u
new generation Of canker worms. 1t
was natural for him to suppose that
| his trees were suffering from another
migration of the pest. The fact Was
that his work cf the year before had
accomplished nothing aud his trees
were nearly ruined.
In fighting the pest the old saw
''the early bird catches the worm,"
is also applicable to the early or
chardist. An innovation in fighting
canker worms is being tried by Ben
i. Coombs aud Harry L. Coombs of
this City. The Coonbs brothers
have orchards with about 10000
trees OH about 1900 acres in Lynn
county, Kansas. aud 10000 trees on
| 600 acres in Miami county, Kansas,
just ten miles away. They are also
planting Il lerge orchard in Southern
Missouri. The Parker, Kas., property
is probably the largest collection Of
apple trees in one place, under one
ownership in the country.
For about eight years they have
made special study of orchard pests
and the best methods for eXterrninat-
ing them. Having learned the ways
of the canker worm, and knowing
we'll the ACCESSIBILITY or al early fight,
they nave conceived the plan of
thwarting the female beetle in her
attempt to lay her eggs on the trees.
the method is simple and is similar
to the practice followed i'll many
|
shade trees from other pests. 1t con-
sists of wrapping pieces of raw cot
ton about six inches wide around the
trunk of the tree as near as possible
to the limbs. The cotton is tied
with stout string and allowed to
hang over the string, making it inn
possible for the beetle to crawl over
it aid reach the crotches AMI limbs
where she can derosit her eggs. If
such precautionary method is used,
now is the time for its application.
During the last two weeks men in
the employ of Mr.. Coombs have
wrapped between 10000 anu $4,000
trees which were most affected by
canker worms last year. For the
protection of trees he will depend
upon the use of the spray. Wrap
ping with cotton is inexpensive.
The cotton costs four and one half
cents pound aud pound will
wrap fifty trees.
~ means praeticed and generally
used in New York orchards Is q tin
collar made in flaring manner and
attached TO the tree, by means of IL
| wire. Another collar is made of the
common mosquito bar or wire net
ting, cut six inches broad and put un
the tree. giving it flariug shape. a
patent was applied for Oh tue latter
device.
WRAP THEM IN MARCH.
Trees should be wrapped not later
than March 2Oth or before spring
days appear. If the beetle eiudes
the orchardist and lays her eggs,
there are sill several means OF COM
batting the canker worm. Spraying
is the most effective and there are
several kinds OF sprays Mr.. C"Ombs
belives that the spray most destruct-
i've to the canker worm consists Ol
one pound Of Paris green to fifty
gallons of water, with two pounds OF
suiphate Of copper and with sufficient
lime to keep from burning the trees
The so-cal!ed dust spray is also co'n-
ing into practical use. The same