The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-07-25

San Juan county orchards have in the
pact enjoyed a remarkable immunity
from insects, an immunity which has
led to more or less carelessness ia the
handling and purchase OF fruit trees
from points where the codling moth and
other pests have OF tanned footing and
become a menace The day will doubt
less come. far away as it may be now,
when concerted effort @ill be put forth
by our ranchmen to protect their or
chards from diseaoes Of this kind. The
isolated location Of our irrigated area
should make it easier here than it is
elsewhere to combat and overcome the
Tnvaars0i the ipascf pests
fls e now being made ia a
smell rs ind ae prsimlnary 20 other
ba tnfIt nIlh uodl bg 10y Of our
laI|tIoo Col, ~. 81. Williams and
Mr. John M. Miueson Of Aztec are
among those who have devoted time to
this subject IN experiments aloug a csr-
tain line. Col Williams has kept in bis
orchard at night during this spring and
summer two or three lights whose fame
is designed to attract the moths and
othor insect life Of nocturnal habits. He
states that the contrivances he had ar
ranged and placed in his orchard 90 oc-
casional nights, have lured to their
death many Of the moths, among which
ars believed to be number of the cod
ling moths, and that the apparatus cap
tured an enormous number Of the gnats
and flies which render life burden TO
man and beast. The colonel is a conser.
vativs man. but he estimates that one
Of his lights destroyed as many as 10000
OF the gnats in a night in this way.
The apparatus used by Mr., Milleson
differs somewhat from that employed by
others but in many features is similar
Mr. Milleson gives the following as a
suggestion for those who wish to fight
the insect life 10 their orchards and the
method he offers would be found mex
pensive and could be employed by aoy
OF our farmers He taxes apple box
timber. from whish he conetructs a
somewhat smaller box, putting pane Of
glass 10 each Of the four sides. a piece
OF tin is bent to make q pan about foot
long, two or three inches wide and say
about an inch deep. -Four Of these pans
are then placed under the box, one on
each side. onder the glass. aud a little
watar or kerosene is poured into them
With a lighted lamp set inside the box
the nocturnal insects are attracted to Il
and striking hard against the glass sideI
they fail into the pans set for them Mr
Milieaon finds that ih this way be kill
as many as eighty moths and g grea
number Of gnats and other insects 10 oDl
night. lt seems to be d cheap and Of
fectiee method Of disposing Of largl
quantities OF the insects. The proper
sion Of eodling moths caught in thi
manner Is difficult 10 determine. but IL Il
undoubtedly considerable. and as scien
fists estimate that 50 per cent Of insect
in tine orchard are injurious and only
per cent are beneficial, it appears tha
tho experiment here outlined ia ez
trsmelY meriiorioua.
The present season 10 San Jual
county Is notable Tor the scarcity Of 10
sect iifa in tile orchards and IN th
delda. bot "in time of peace prepare 70
var is an old saying and a ahreWd onl
and ve eall attention 70 this matter d
this time with a COIL belief 10 iis import