Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1913-02-06
Farmer 5 Corner.
San Jose Scale In Kentucky.

A great many of the orchards
Of Kentucky are badly infested
with San Jose scale, becoming
so common that it threatens to
wipe out a great many OF the or
chards altogether unless strenu-
Gus measures are taken to control
it. At this particular season
it is we'll to call the atten-
ton of the orchard owners to the
pest, so that steps may be taken
to hold it in check.
The San Jose scale belongs to
a class of insects known as suck
ing insects. 1t attacks nearly all
fruits and is oftentimes found on |
scrubs and forest trees. On bad |
lily infested limbs it appears as a
greyish scurf which is made up
of millions of insects. The indi-
vidual scale is round and some
what smaller than a pin head.
On the fruit the scale makes itself
known by the characteristic little
red .blotches. The scale usually
attacks the younger wood first,
and if left undisturbed sooon COW
ers the whole tree. One of the
best places to look for it is at the
point where new wood growth
started the previous season.
Since the scale is a sucking in
sect and obtains it's food from
beneath the surface of the plant
host it is obvious that no spray
ing with Paris green or other ar
senical preparation would kill it.
Hence some one of the contract
sprays which kill from the outside
must be used. The contact sprays
are caustic and penetrating
in their effect and are generally
used for scale insects.
Some Of the most importont
contact sprays are Lime ane Sui
phur Wash Soap Solutions, Kero-
sene Emulsion, Tobacco, Extract
Soluble Oils and Lye Wash.
Lime and Sulphur is the most
common insecticide used. For
San Jose scale it should be APP
piled while the trees are dormant.
Spray as late as possible before
the buds start to swell. Lime and
Sulphur for dormant trees is US
ually prepared as follows:
Fresh Lime (unslacked) 20 lbs.
Sulphur ,------------------1 10 lbs.
Water ---50ga gals
Prepare the above by Stacking
the lime and sulphur together in
a large iron kettle, dilute to Is
gals. and boil from forty-fve to
sixty minutes. The liquid if
properly prepared will turn to a
reddish amber color and will be
ready for use. Dilute to fifty
gallons and apply as soon as pos
sible because it loses strength on
standing.
If one has a small orchard and
does not care to prepare the lime
and sulphur at home, it may be
purchased at reasonable rates
from the larger implement and
supply stores. A great many of
the commercial growers no leng-
er prepare their own mixture, but
use the commercial mixture in
stead. 1t should be applied as
follows:
Concentrated material II gal.
Water q M IN oalc
The above formulas give the
strengths recommended for dor
mant sprayings only.
Remember that throughness is
necessary in order to obtain re-
suits from spraying. Use a
strong durable, brass-lined pump
that will carry a good strong
steady pressure. To be success
full the work must be well done.
: This means that every limb on the
tree, from the ground to the tip, is
to be covered with the spray.
For further information along
this or allied lines of orchard
management, address the De-
partment of Horticulture, Ken.
lucky, Experiment Station, Lex
ington, KY.
]. H. CARMoDY,
Assistant Horticulturist