The Delta independent., 1910-05-20
farm ano Ranch
First and Second Sprays

First and Second Sprays
For the COdling Moth.
The most important of all the
sprays for the control of the codling
moth is that made just after the
blossoms have fallen and before the
calyx lobes have closed. The reason
that it is so important to make a
thorough application at this time
is because, on an average, about
eighty per cent of the worms for
the year try to enter the apple at
the calyx or blossom end. If the
poison can be placed in the blossom
before it closes, it remains there to
catch the eighty per cent of the
first brood. In doing this the sec
ond brood is also lessened by eighty
per cent The poison then remains
within the calyx to kill eighty per
cent of the twenty per cent of the
second brood that was left. 1t is
also important because if the poi
son is not applied before the calyX
closes, the eighty per cent of worms
that enter at the calyx then have
free access to the apple without
danger of being poisoned, and 20
amount of spraying afterwards can
get them. So, after all, the best
time to poison the worms that are
to enter the apples at the calyx in
August, September and October, is
when the blossoms have nearly all
fallen from the trees.
In order to get results it is nee
essary that this first treatment be
made very thorough. By thorough
treatment is meant one that will fill
practically all the calyX cups with
the poisonous spray. In order to
do this large trees will require any
where from six to twelve gallons OF
spray The coarser the spray the
larger quantity it will require to
thoroughly treat the trees. The
spray, however. should lie coarse
enough to have good carrying power
so that it can be driven into the
blossoms upon all parts of the tree.
While making this first applica-
ton, someone who is directing the
spray should occasionally thoroughly
examine the blossoms on all parts of
tree just sprayed, for the purpose
of determining whether or not the
liquid is being deposited in all the
blossoms. Any man can test his
work from time to time in this way
if he chooses, and so be able to
know positively whether or not the
work is being thoroughly done.
Avoid throwing large amount of
the spray directly upon the trunks
AMI large limbs of the trees. be-
cause when this is done the poison
is carried down about the crown,
where it is apt to do serious harm,
poisoning the crown of the tree
itself.
If this first treatment is1lvery
is worth while to spray again until
about four weeks after the blossoms
have fallen, which will be approx
mately the date when the eggs of
the first brood begin to hatch.
treatment at this time should be
made with a very fine spray so d1-
rected as lightly to cover all parts
of the fruit and foliage TO poison
those worms that enter at the sides
of the apples. With these first two
treat ments thoroughly made, as
above described, the writer believes
that we have the best possible con-
dition for the destruction OF worms
of the first brood. If the worms of
this brood are practically all de-
stroyed, there could be but very
light second brood, unless the moths
for the second brood of worms fly
into the orchard from the surround
ing orchards that have not been
properly treated.
C. p. GILLETTE,
Colorado Agricultural College, Fort
Collins.