The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-12-18
White Fly and Gold Dust.

saw about using gold dust as an in
secticide for white fly, and have con-
t1nued to give all the information that
we could find. A correspondent of
the ST. Petersburg Independent gives
the following opinion on the subject,
which we think is very nearly correct:
In order to answer many inquiries
and to establ1she proper understand
ing regarding soap sprays, this article
is written.
To begin with, let me say that I
use soap sprays primarily for the pur-
pie scale, which SO rapidly follow the
white fly. While spraying I found
that the solution killed millions Of
the fly, and reasoning that the SCOT
from the fly would be in proportion
to the number of flies, Mr.. Mears
and I decided it was a help to keep
a check on the fly. From practical
observation of my neighbors and my
self, it is evident that the scale is
the disease that kills the trees; also
that the soap spray will remove the
SCALE 1t is true that the white fly
weakens the tree first, so that the
scale is sure to follow. But since the
fly is SO difficult to exterminate, why
not fight the scale with Our simple
remedies and have clean and healthy
trees?
1t is a case like leprosy Leprosy
never kills by itself, but it does
weaken the system till the victim con-
tracts pulmonary diseases or pneu-
monia and dies. No one attempts
to cure 1eprosy. The patient is given
good food, water and air to ward
off consumption, and good clothing
and housing to prevent pneumonia.
The 1eper either gets we'll Or lives a
long life. We are treating Our trees
the same way-gOOd care and proper
fertilizer for food with soap and water
to. keep clean.
There are number of ultra cien-
tiic men who give no ear to the prac-
teal grower. They are too full Of
such terms as "hydrocyanic acid gas
and "septicaemia hemorrhagia," TO
notice Octagon soap. A distinguished
Florida scientist wrote me, "Gold
Dust does not kill the larvae (eggs).
1t puts temporary shiny gloss on
the leaves. It is not an insecticide."
One would infer that he meant it a
harmless amusement. While an old
grower Of thirty years experience at
Largo says, 81 know common spray
will keep my trees free from scale,
and what I know, I know"
A California article recently said:
1--WE played the caustic (soap) sprays
to finish years ago and found them
no good" Then an old grower from
Volusia county answers II have
used pearline or common soap for
years and know that it keeps my trees
clean" In my case I left one tree
without spraying Or washing, in any
way, among my other trees. In one
year it died, covered with scale and
I dug it up, while the surrounding
trees we'll sprayed are looking fine. .
One thin spray will not do the bust
ness. I use eight pounds Gold Dust,
Pearline or Octagon to fifty gallons
water, we'll dissolved with boiling hot
water in bucket before pouring in the
BARREL Also the trunks must be
scrubbed with strong soap suds, one
bar Octagon to a bucket Of water
applied with common fbers brush
One bucket will last a man half a
day. Spray once a month if neces-
sary. 1t is no baby's job, but if a
grove is worth having at all it is worth
going after properly. One more
word in conclusion. The learned pro
fessor is right. Gold Dust is not an
insectcide Still that does not pre-
clude it's beneficial use in grove
It is so sticky, if mixed thin enough
that the wings Of the white fly adhere
o,, TO any other c11h-