Graham guardian., 1913-02-21
Weeds and leaves in and around

J Weeds and leaves in and around
infested apple and pear orchards
should be thoroughly cleaned up and
burned. Trees should be pruned Sc
that the tops can be reached with
the spray and so that a team and
wagon with the spray can be moved
easily between the rows. If the
trees are too closely planted, re-
moval of every other tree may be ad-
visable. Many orchards are too close
ly planted for greatest productive
ness, regardless of the matter of
controlling the codling moth.
The codling moth winters in the
worm or caterpillar stage inside of
a whitish silken cocoon. These CO.
coons, which are little over one
half inch in length. are located un-
der the loose bark of the trees, in
cracks and holes of the trees. amongst
weeds and rubbish on the ground in
and around orchards, in sacks and
boxes which have contained infested
fruit and in around the rooms or
sheds where infested fruit has been
stored. Narrow cracks between
boards provide very attractive WIN
ter quarters for the codling moth.
If it were possible to locate all of
these cocoons during the winter
season the codling moth might be
absolutely exterminated. An effort
should be made to take care of as
many as possible, remembering that
on the average every worm des-
troyed means the protection of 20
or 25 apples or pears. In addition
to cleaning up and burning the
weeds and rubbish of the orchards,
storage rooms and packing materials
should be looked after. Where
fruit growing is extensive the screen
ing of the packing and storage rooms
is very effective aid in controlling
the codling moth. In the spring
the adult moths emerge and find
them selves confined ina screened
room and unable to fly to the fruit
orchards to lay their eggs.
In the different sections where
apples and pears are grown it is
suggested that the fruit growers
protective associations or codling
moth protective associations for CO.
operative purposes. Such associa-
tions might arrange for purchasing
sprayers and poison with consider
able saving in freightage and in
prices for the materials. 1t is nee.
essary to apply the first spray within
a period of eight or ten days begin.
ming when about nine-tenths of the
petals have fallen from the blooms.
1t is important therefore to have a
pump or pumps of sufficient capacity
to accomplish the desired work
within the required time. Small
lots of trees cannot be sprayed as
quickly as large lots. At Woodruff,
Mr.. S. d. Smith, Crop Pest Inspector
for District No. 5, reports about $40
apple and pear trees in lots ranging
from 3 to 1913. At this point two
hand pumps costing about $4,000
each for complete outfits are needed.
If there were twice as many trees
in the thirty orchards reported |
would not recomend four of the
same hand sprayers. but instead
would recommend a power sprayer
run by means of a gasoline engine.
Where there are as many as five
acres in one bearing apple and pear
orchard a gasoline power sprayer is
more economical than hand power.
In spraying small lots of trees, how
ever. the economy might not be
proportional.
For information concerning desir-
able spray pumps and concerning
insecticides for use against the cod
ling moth consult Mr.. S. D. Smith,
Crop Pest Inspector, Holbrook or
Mr.. Owe E. Overton, Deputy Crop
Pest Inspector, St. Johns, Catalogs
and price lists have been placed in
the hands of both these representa-
tives of the Arizona Commission of
Agriculture and Horticulture.
AS final word of advice if you
want good fruit, fruit that is worth
selling, and fruit that you will be
permitted to transport and dispose
of lawfully, you should make your
plans at once. DO it now"
A. w. MORRILL,,
State FntomoloUist