The Greeley tribune., 1910-06-02
FIRST AND SECOND SPRAYS
FOR THE COOLING MOTH

The most important OF all the
sprays for the control Of the codling
moth is that made Just after the blos-
SONS have fallen and before the
calyx lobes have closed. The reason
that it Is SO important to make
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. II the poison
can be placed in the blossom be-
fore it closes, 1t remains there to
catch the eighty per cent of the first
brood. In doing this the second
brood is also lessened by eighty per
cent. The poison then remains with
In the calyx to kill eighty per cent
OF the twenty per cent OF the second
brood that was left. It's also import
ant because. II the poison is not ap-
piled 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 no 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 Oc-
tober, is at the time of the first
treatment, when the blossoms have
nearly all fallen from the trees.
In order to get results it is neces-
sary that this first treatment be
made very thorough. BY thorough
treatment is meant one that will fill
practically all the calyx cups with
poisonous spray. In order to do this
large trees will require anywhere
frD civ fN re
The coarser the spray the larger
treat the trees. The spray. however.
should be 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-
tion some one who is directing the
spray should occasionally thoroughly
examine the blossoms on all parts of
a tree Just sprayed for the purpose
of determining whether or not the IL
quid 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 posi-
lively whether or not the work is
being thoroughly done.
Avoid throwing a large amount of
the spray directly upon the trunks
and larger limbs of the trees, because
when this is done the poison is car
ried down al out the crown, where
it is apt to do serious harm poisoning
the crown of the tree itself.
If this first treatment is very
thoroughly done, I do not believe it
is worth while to spray again until
about four weeks after he blossoms
have fallen. which will be approx
mately the date when the eggs
of the first brood begin to hatch. A
treatment at this time should be
made with very fine spray so di-
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 condition for
the destruction of the worms of the
first brood. II the worms of this
first brood are practically all des-
troyed, 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 prop
erly treated.
c. P. GILLETTE,
Colorado Agricultural College, Fort
Collins