The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-07-01

In The Ranch of June 1 a statement
was published from G. A. Warner, OF
Prosser, Wash, concerning a green
worm about an inch long which is re-
ported to feed on aphids. | stated
that the matter was referred to our
state entomologist, Prof. A. l.. Nc
lander, for further information. Be
low is given Prof. Melander's reply,
which gives his view on the green
worm referred to and also gives his
views relative to the bud moth and
other insect pests on Orcas Island. /
know that our readers will be glad to
hear from Prof. Melander on these
matters. Under date of June Is, he
writes as follows:
My Dear Mr.. Walden:
I have been away for several weeks
on Farmers Institute circuit so have
lust come across your letter. | have
noticed in various newspapers Mr.
Warmers account Of his new insect.
I suppose from his descriptions that
he has run across the young OF one
of the numerous surplus flies. These
insects do a great deal OF good IN
checking the number of aphids, but, OF
course, cannot be depended on to keep
an orchard clean. l understand that
much success has been had in the ak
ina country this year by spraying with
tobacco extract. This seems better
than the soaps or oil emulslonS be-
cause the fumes will penetrate into
the curled leaves and will do good
when it is too late to spray with the
usual treatments.
By the way, [ have been to Orcas
Island this trip and have gotten some
interesting information about the min
ing insect and from what the orchard
lists say, there has been considerable
mistake about this pest. 1t seems that
the consignment of apples was sent to
San Francisco, and while in transit
the financial panic occurred and the
orchardists stated positively that 1t
was not the insects but the panic that
caused the shipment to be turned back
to Seattle. | am told that they have
an affidavit that the fruit was not in
spected in San Francisco. Their COM
plaint is that when the fruit was re-
iected. it was taken to Seattle instead
of returned to them or to Everett,
which | believe was where they sold
the fruit. This fruit was auctioned
to pay the transportation charges, was
sold for 25 cents a box, was repacked
and as they claim had very few d1shg-
ured apples, but what was thrown
away was discarded because of partial
decay and then the fruit was sold To-
cally for $3.50 per box. The Orcas
Islanders have received nothing Tor
this consignment of six thousand
boxes. The commission firm that pur-
chased the apples has gone out OF eX-
istence. The newspapers have given
much publicity to the dire pest which
is infesting their orchards and on all
sides the fruit growers of this pretty
little island are being hard hit. |
doubt very much if the insect has
caused 1 per cent of injury to the fruit
and although it is not, therefore, all
chronological problem, | have been
interested in tracing out their troubles.
have learned considerable about
the bud moth on this trip. You know 1t
does not occur east of the mountains.
Q found it just this Afternoon in the
College orchardD and it is only when
| get over on the other side of the state
that | get to see it. / have found the
insect on apple, pear, plum and cherry
and it was in evidence in every or
chard | visited throughout the hVe
counties where we held our Institutes.
This insect is certainly the worst or