The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1904-04-01


this spring and to such allow me to
make a few suggestions. The lime
sulphur wash should always be used
viii e fresh. Don't let any of the
mixture stand over night if you can
help it. 1t need not be sprayed on
hot, as was thought to be necessary
formerly, but it works better when
warm than when cold. Leave none
of the mixture in your pump over
night for if you do you may find it
will not work the next morning. When
you stop for the night it is well to
run a few gallons of clean water
through your pump.
Can we use any spray that will be
effe ctual in killing the scale and that
can be prepared without boiling? Yes.
Prof. Brittons has this to say in ans
wer to that question:: "There is a
demand for an inexpensive substance
that will prove destructive to the scale,
and that can be used without boiling.
Sulphide of potash and lime meets
the second and third of these require
ments, but is too expensive for orch
ard use. 1t is very convenient way
to make the mixture for use on small
trees or shrubs in the garden or city
backyard-and these regions are filled
with scale in many towns and cities.
It may be prepared as follows: Sui
phide of potash Oliver of sulphur), one
pound; fresh lime, one pound; water,
two gallons. Dissolve the sulphlde in
water in a pail and Stake the lime
in another, and when all is in liquid
form put both together and a first
rate lime and sulphur mixture is the
result. In our experiments last year
this mixture proved very effective in
destroying the scale insects
In certain quarters of the state
there seems to be much fear OF the
woolly aphis. This has been aug
mented by those who ought to know
better by picturing the terrible results
that are wrought by this insect. Now
the facts are that the woolly aphls
does not do much harm in Washing
ton. On the west side of the Cas-
cade range it is claimed it does not
work on the roots of the apple trees.
If this is so, then it ought to be
comparatively easy to control. 1t is
not a difficult insect to kill IL 1T can
be got at. The difficulty is to reach
it when it is under ground. But when
the insects are out on the limbs, spray
with kerosene emulsion and every one
of them that is reached will be killed.
We find that in eastern Washington
where we irrigate they do but little
harm. They cannot live under water
and by flooding the ground they will
be killed. Tobacco dust will effec
ally kill them. By punching some
holes in the ground about the base OF
tree that is affected and putting in
bisulphide of carbon they will be
killed The woolly aphis has been in
our orchards for nine years and we
cannot see that they have done any
harm. 1t is easier to be scared than
hurt by this insect.
X
At the meeting of the horticultural
inspectors in Pullman the past winter
it was shown that this insect is In
every county in the state, and yet
Washington continues to grow apples
in great abundance and among the
finest that are grown in the world.
Prof. Booth is reported as saying at
a meeting of the horticulturists in
North Yakima recently that the woolly
aphis does not seem to do much harm
in this state. My son, Smiley Walden,
is reported to have said at the same