West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-11-04
CAREFUL INSPECTION or THE
ORCHARD SHOULD Be MADE
Many Insects are Held IN Check
Only by Spraying During the
Dormant Period of Trees When
Stronger Washes May be Used
Than at Later Period

ed during the fall. winter, and early
spring. Certain destructive insects
are held in check only by spraying
during the dormant period of trees
when stronger washes may be used
than when the trees are i'm fcliage
Many insects of the orchard spend tho
winter on the trees i'm the egg, laryal
or pupal stage. and their destruction
In the course OF pruning or other or
| chard work is practicable and is of
much Importance in keeping them re-
| duced.
orchard scale insects as class are
best treated after the foliage has drop
ped from the trees. This work may
be done In late fall. during the winter
when the temperature is above freez-
ing, or in the spring before the buds
swell to any extent Spraying OF an
pie. peach, pear, and other trees for
the San Jose scale with strong lime
| sulphur or other suitable wash is now
very generally practiced by orchard
lists, and many persons owning but a
small number OF fruit trees I'm the
yard also regularly spray the trees
Tor the control OF this serious insect
pest. Lime-sulphur concentrate is
used in spraying for the San Jose
scale, and may be purchased OF man
utacturers or made at home. The
commercial article usually has a dem
sity OF 30 degrees TO "a degrees as
registered on Baume hydrometer,
and in preparing the concentrate at
home effort should be made to secure
a wash about this density. Such a
concentrate is used at the rate of 1
part to or 9 parts of water. Only
one treatment each winter is neoes-
sary to hold this pest in subsection.
but the application must be very
thorough, coating all parts of the
twigs, limbs, and branches. This
work requires spray pump, and these
may be obtained for work on almost
any scale, and range In size from the
so-called bucket pump suitable for
work on few trees In the yard to the
large gasoline-power outfits employed
In extensive orchards. More specific
information on the San Jose scale and
the preparation at home OF lime-sul-
phur concentrate will be found in
Farmers Bulletin $50.
Certain other scale-insect pests
which may be present on the trees, as
the cherry scale, oyster-shell scale
etc, are also pretty well held In check
by this annual treatment with lime
sulphur wash. The treatment is also
effective against the pear-leaf blister
mite, which is universally present ON
pears and in some localities is a very
serious apple pest. Certain destruc-
tive apple plant lice winter in the egg
stage on the apple. especially on the
newer growth, aud thorough lime-sul-
phur spraying for the San Jose scale
undoubtedly results i'm the destruction
OF many OF these eggs, though the
treatment is not always sufficient to
obviate spraying after the insects
have Matched and the foliage is put
ting out, In the Middle and Southern
States, where the winters are not too
rigorous, the woody apple aphis often
maintains itself i'm colonies here and
there on apple trees, occurring more
especially around wounds where the
thinner bark Is exposed. The spray
ings for the San Jose scale aid in de-
stroying those colonies. Spring spray
ing OF peach as the buds are swelling.
In addition TO its destructive action on
the scale insects mentioned, is also
a very effective check TO the so-called
peach twig-borer, or peach worm.
which Is very destructive in California
and numerous arid valleys in the
West. This spring application OF
lime-sulphur to peach is practically a
specific for the serious fungous di-
sease known as peach-leaf curl. In
some sections Of the country the pear
Psylla is very serious pest to pears.
The adults hibernate in crevioes and
cracks on the trees, resuming activity
with the first warm days In the spring
Spring spraying OF pears for the San
Jose scale has in addition very
marked value In checking the pear
Psylla.
The so-called terrapin scale OF
peach, as well as Lecanlum scales fin
general are not satisfactorily con-
trolled by the iime-sulphur spray, but
should be treated with strong kero-
sene emulsion, or with misoible
(mixable) Gil This latter is a general
term applied to several commercial
preparations which are used at the
rate Of part 70 Is or 20 parts OF
water.
In addition TO routine dOrmaut-tree
spraying much good work may be
done In the control OF orchard insects
by operations during the leafless per
iod. The codling moth, the cause OF
wormy apples. passes the winter I'm
silken cocoons under scales OF bark
in crevices and in knot holes on the
trunks and larger limbs Of the apple
Old trees especially should be
thoroughly scraped win dull hoe OF
similar instrument to destroy the hi.
bornating codling moth isrve.
The apple-tree tent caterpillar win
ters in the egg stage en- various or.
chard trees, as the apple and neach