The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-02-16
new DISCOVERY = ..
MADE BY ACCIDENT

Hortcultursts of Idaho think they
have made a discovery which may
mean a great deal to the apple indus
try of the state. The discovery vas
made by accident on the place Of Mr..
William NJ. Cupp OF this city. Messrs
J. F. Llttooy, state consulting hCrti-
culturist, B. F. Hurst and other au
thorities have made investigations and
are of the opinion that they can COM
plctely eliminate the cooling moth by
a method entirely different from that
now in use. 1t is proposed to spray
with arsenate of lead solution after
the fruit blossoms have dropped off.
1t is interesting to note that the dis
covery was made through one grower
not having obeyed the law by spray
ing at the time he should.
Last year, finding that William Cupp
had not obeyed the law which insists
on spraying for San Jose scale early
in the spring, Deputy Horticultural
Inspector Edgar Meek insisted that
Mr.. Cupp spray, even though his or
chard was in full bloom. Mr.. Cupp
did so, using the solution of lime and
sulphur, which is always used to elm
mate scale. This was accomplished
some little time before the regular
spraying for the cooling moth is done,
for which arsenic is used.
After Mr.. Cupp had sprayed for the
scale it was useless for him to use
the regular arsenical poison for the
codling moth, as the calyx cup of the
bloom was clogged with the lime and
sulphur spray, the leaves being also
covered with it. He was, therefore.
compelled to content himself with con-
trolling what he and the Inspector
thought was one insect pest at time,
but the opposite proved true, for at
harvest time Mr.. Cupp found that he
had no wormy apples
Mr.. Littooy learned of this acct
dental discovery through a casual re-
mark made by Inspector Meek. He
recalled also that c. B. Marlett of
Gooding observed the same thing in
his orchard about five or six years ago
when he was compelled to spray at
full bloom. He put the two together
and believed that an important discov-
cry had been made which might be of
great value to the fruit growers in
curtailing the heavy losses as result
of imperfection of fruit by the codling
moth.
Inspector Meek, Mr.. Littooy found,
was very reticent about remarking on
these accomplishments because the
method used is contrary to custom and
law, which he, as an officer, must en-
force. AS Messrs. Meek, Cupp or
Marlett could give no reason why the
spray used gave such results, they felt
that they should hesitate to recon-
mend it, says the Statesman.
Mr.. Littooy believes that he has
found out why this experiment is eff
fective, and he thinks that expert
ment stations and fruit growers will
find there is a valuable base for ex-
periments The reason for the success
in graduating the moth with the lime
and sulphur solution, he believes, is
chiefly due to the repellant odors of
the spray while it is changing from
sulphide to sulphate, which wards
the moth off. Then again, Mr.. Littooy
believes that if the codling moths
eggs should be laid on leaf or fruit,
that they might be rendered infertile.
Thus, if for any reason the first brood
is mostly eliminated, it stands to reas-
on there will be very small proper
ton of later brood and it is for this
reason that stress is laid on the i'm
portance of spraying properly with
the arsenates for the first brood.
Wait for the Experts.
Mr.. Lttooy advises that no change
be made from the regular mode of