The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1904-05-28
SPRAYING THE TREES.
A Needful Remedy For Pests
Directions as to Preparation
and How to Apply.

II
, From nearly every county in the
upper peninsula letters were received
at the experiment station last sum,
mer inquiring into the cause Of curled
leaves, or the sickly appearance oi
the twigs Of apple trees. In nearly
every instance the trouble was found
to be due to small greeninsects which
feed on the under side OF the leaves,
causing them to curl up by with
drawing the sap. When the leaves
are nearly killed, the insects attack
the tender part Of the twigs, which
soon turn yellow and finally dry up.
When the damage is done in early
spring, and especially during two
successive seasons, some of the trees
are apt to be either partly or entirely
killed, If the insects happen to be
numerous and their natural enemies,
such as "lady bugs" and several
species of wasps, happen to be
scarce.
The insect, the aphis, when full
grown, is not much larger than the
head OF pin. 1t secretes sweet
ish substance called honey dew upon
which ants, wasps and other insects
feed when fresh, and upon this honey
dew black fungus appears, which
often gives the limbs sooty appear
ance. There are several species Of
these insects, not only injecting ap-
pie trees, but also many other plants,
such as oats, wheat, grass, cabbage,
rutabagas and peas, and such other
trees as plums, black alder, maple
and viburnum, or SNOWFALL tree.
Those which attack cherry trees are
jet black, and while they are not
aphides, they resemble them in habits
and modes OF living. Shrubbery,
especially rose bushes, are also fire.
quently damaged.
Last summer these insects were
very numerous and were responsible,
more than anything else, for the
short crop of oats in all the north
western states. All these insects
lay eggs during fall in crotches and
around the buds of twigs and
branches, the eggs being oval in
form, black and polished, and when
seen with the naked eye, look like so
many 'fly specks." These eggs
hatch out early in spring, just as the
buds oper up, and now is the time
to look out for them, for all trees
require the best of care this spring,
being more or less weakened, owing
to the unusually long winter. 1t is
much easier to kill these insects now
, than later on.
The following spraying mixture
has, as far as / know, never been
: used any where except at this station
, last summer. 1t is simple, inexpen-
sive aud harmless to all plants or
trees. 1t is combination of other
, mixtures, and last summer proved
more effective at this station than
any other.
Heat one gallon of water; dissolve
in it one pound of laundry soap, and
when it begins to boil, pour it into a
pail, into which put twelve ounces of
tobacco stems. Allow it to soak
! fifteen to twenty minutes, or until
cold, strain through cheese cloth
into tub, keg or barrel and then
add seven gallons of cold water
Remember that it is necessary to
touch each insect with the spraying
mixture in order to kill it. 1t is
necessary therefore, to moisten
every twig and limb, but it is not
necessary TO spray until the drops
roll off. Even with a good small
hand force pump there should be no
trouble in thoroughly spraying oae
thousand young trees in one day.
Most seed houses sell tobacco stems
for about $l2 per 100 pounds and
mo It cigarmakers throw them away
In order to show how thickly the
! eggs OF these insects are laid, /
: have sent to THE SENTINEL q small
twig from an apple t zee left un-
treated last season. Farmers and
others who are. or ought to be, In
terested, and who have not observed
the habits OF these insects. should
call and look. at the twig. They can
see several hundred eggs upon twigs
not more than four or five inches
long. With a-magnifying glass these
eggs can, OF course, be more easily
distinguished aud counted.
| The time to spray Is now, and a
week later, In order TO catch the
insects which are slower In hatching
out. LEO. M. GEIsMAR,
| u. p. Experiment Station.
| Chatham, Mich, May l8, 1904.
J PER YEAR. LESS