Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-07-11
Small Fruit Pests.

GaTQeQ vegetables hT6 T0LudI hdDly
free from diseases and insect pests.
This is due to the fact that they are
nearly all ANNALS and they are grown
in small qualities and on different
locations every year or so.
Small bush fruits, on the other hand.
are almost certain to be seriously dam
aged by a number of parasites unless
they receive the necessary care to pro-
tect them. The conditions under
which this class of back yard crops
grows is favorable to the development
of these pests.
The plants are long lived and ire
quently carry the larvae or the spores
of their respective parasites over from
season to season. AS handled by most
people. the diseased stems, leaves and
fruits are left on the ground about the
bushes, and parasites propagate In
such rubbish with vigor.
Probably the most general and the
most destructive pest encountered on
the bush fruits is some form Of foliage
eating worm, like the larvae Of the saw
| fly. There worms appear almost as
soon as the leaves are out and they
will soon strip the entire bush Of its
| foliage unless they are promptly ex-
terminated. 1t is fortunate that they
can be killed very easily II properly
treated, and the treatment will apply
equally well with any leaf-eating
worm.
The saw-fy's eggs are laid on the
under side of the leaves, especially
those leaves located well down in the
center of the plant. Watch your berry
bushes closely and get busy as soon
as you notice little holes in any of the
lower leaves, as that means that the
worms are there and are getting In
their work of destruction. If taken In
hand now, there will be little trouble
or expense involved, so act promptly.
Get some powdered white hellebore
and dust it on all of the foliage in the
region where the worms have begun
work. Scatter it thickly and get it on
both sides of the leaves. Do the dust
ing early in the morning, before the
dew is off the leaves. The powder will
then stick fast and will remain until
the next heavy rain.
II it should rain Immediately, pow
der again. The whole bush should be
treated IL the worms have got good
start, and if you allow these worms tc
strip the foliage the fruit will be
small, shriveled and tasteless. Re
member that the leaves are both the
digestive and respiratory organs OF the
plant, and without them it can neither
eat nor breathe.
II large numbers of ants appear OF
the bushes, Investigate the under sur
face of the leaves for tiny greer
aphis, or plant lice. A good spraying
with tobacco water will fix them.
Cane borers, gall beetles, tree crick
cts, ETC., kill individual canes and th'
only remedy is to cut out and burn al
infected canes and clean up all rub
bish.
4 Red rust is prevalent in some sec
tions and it is very deadly and espe
cially contagious. 1t is a parasitic dis
ease which causes spots OF rusty-look
ing fungi to appear on the stems. Cut
. ting out and burning diseased cane
: and spraying the rest frequently wit
: Bordeaux mixture is the only means
q cambating 1t. This mixture Is hard 7
, handle in a small garden.
|. Anthracnose is another deadly dii
. ease and is indicated by the presenc
4 of purple patches on stems and fol
2 age. Treat as for rust
Certain varieties are more resistan
q to these diseases, and these should b
!. planted In localities known to be II
= fected.
q For mildew on currants and goos'
' berries, use powdered sulphur and al
!, ply it in the form of dust while th
4 dew is on the leaves.