The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-05-28
GRANGE.
WEEKLY PRESS NEWS LETTER.
Plant Pests-Bitter Rot of Apples
The Oyster Shell Scale.

The Oyster Shell Scale.
Prof. H. A. Surface, State zoolo-
gist of Pennsylvania, calls attention
to a very prevalent disease of ap-
pies, known as bitter rot, giving
it's symptoms and telling what to
do at present to prevent loss from
it.
The diseased apple usually be-
comes dark brown throughout and
quite bitter, and shrivels into
dry, hard and much-wrinkled mass
called a mummy" This may re-
main firmly attached to the twig
| for a year or more, but usually
falls to the ground before the dry
ing process has been completed.
The little, dry, shriveled apples Of
ten seen clinging to the trees dur
ing the winter are evidences of this
disease. They should be gather
ed and burned at any time.
To be on the safe side, in the
| line of prevention, give trees a
thorough application of Bordeaux
mixture.
TO discover bitter rot, examine
the trees in the orchard systemati-
cally, following the rows and MAX
ing the sharpest possible search for
the rot spots on the apple. AS a
rule, the first infection will be
found on the upper surface of the
apple; therefore, it is best to make
the examination from an elevated
position. A good and quick meth
Cd is to drive between the rows
with a spraying outfit, having two
men on the operating platform, a
man looking at each side.
After the infected trees have
been located, trace all of the dis
eased apples until the cankered
ton, has been found. The infect
ed limbs should be removed and
burned. Do this cautiously, so as
not to spread infection. Wash the
saw or pruning shears with such a
disinfectant as turpentine or with
a five per cent. solution of formalin
in water. Spray with Bordeaux
Mixture, three pounds bluestone,
four pounds lime and so gallons
water, as soon as the blossoms fail,
and repeat this three or four times
at intervals of two weeks each.
THE OYSTER SHELL PEST.
The following timely directions
are suggested for the treatment OF
the oyster shell scale, common
orchard and shade tree pest in
Pennsylvania:
In, 1,; hn yha1
Scale, like the scurvy, differs from
the San Jose in that the young are
hatched from eggs, while those OF
the latter are free at birth. The
shape is that of an oyster shell
about 1-16 of an inch in length and
brown in color. Upon overturnine
the scale, beneath can be seen the
mass of pearly white eggs. This is
during the winter months. These
eggs are laid during September OF
October, the female dying as soon
as this is accomplished. During the
time that the trees have no leaves
the boiled lime-sufur wash Q7
pounds OF sulfur and % pounds OF
lime to so gallons of water, boiled
one hour) thoroughly applied, will
destroy many of the eggs, without
any injury to the trees. For those
not destroyed by this treatment, the
best time to spray is just after the
eggs hatch. This is generally from
the middle of May until early June
in this State, varying with latitude
The time of Matching should be
carefully watched, beginning about
May 10th. When the recently
hatched young begin to crawl they
can be readily noticed, having {
lemon color, and being about the
size of the common red mite or chick
louise. They should be sprayed jus
as soon thereafter, as possible, will
kerosene emulsion, not over tel
per cent. kerosene; or weak solu
+ tion Of soap, about one pound o
either whale oil soap or ordinar.
washing soap dissolved in four o.
+ five gallons of water. The bes
time for a single treatment is abou
the first of June. If this sprayin,
, be delayed until the latter part o
, June or July the young larvae will
have fixed and secreted their seal
covering, when it is very hard t.
; injure them, and spraying will hav,
little effect.
II two applications can be made
, the first should be as soon as man,
t of the young scale insects are OBJ
served crawling, and the secont
| about ten days later, to destroy thos
2 later hatched.
The Oyster-shell scale, like tn
: Scurfy and Lecanium, is not nearl
J. so dangerous as the San Jose.
5 does not spread so quickly, multipl
9 so rapidly, nor is it nearly so in
. furious to the plants on which it i
: found. AS a rule it is most oftel
: found on Lilac, Carolina or LON
Il hardy Poplar, Soft Maple, Willows
: Ash and Apple trees.