The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1915-01-29


sprayed, a loss of 40 boxes to the row
or, basing the yield of the unspraye,
row as for the four rows we hav
32 boxes if the whole four rows hac
been left unsprayed as against a yiel,
of a total of 1872 boxes .(64 trees will
an average yield of 3 boxes per tree)
it all four rows had been sprayed. TIL,
Insprayed trees received the same am
cunt of fertilizer and cultivation a!
the rest of the grove. Further, thu
unsprayed trees showed the ravages
of the pest in the loss of foliage, ant
a great amount of dead wood, and the
remaining foliage being black with
sooty mold or spotted yellow, and the
fruit badly rusted and streaked, as
against very small amount of dead
wood and discolored foliage in The
sprayed trees.
The grove of w. F. Glynn did not
show such remarkable demonstra-
ton, as no row had been left as a
check to compare the result of the
spraying with, but the results obtain
ed were fully as remarkable when
yields were compared as to years
when infestation took place and
against those in which spraying was
resorted to.
The yield of the Glynn grove in 1911
was 6,400 boxes, in 1912 this he'd
dropped, due to infestation of white
fly and its attendant parasites, to g.
100; in 1913 it still further dropped
to 2,100. During 1918 four applica-
tions of spraying was made, using
the same methods and formulas as
used in the Williams grove. For the
season of 1914-1915 tile yield had ris-
en- from 2,100 boxes for the season
previous to yield of s, 400 boxes. In
1914 three applications of spraying
only were made (the application in
July being omitted) using the same
formulas as in the Williams grove.
The trees, while showing the effects of
the sooty mold of the whitefy, some
scale and rust mites, were in a vigo-
rous condition, and their healthfulness
is shown by the increased yield and
general good appearance. With fur
Their care and attention in the way of
spraying they, too, will resume their
normal yield or will exceed it
The Mccormick grove showed up
the least best of all from the treat
ment which was to be regretted. A
careful examination of the trees show
ed that the outer rim of the bearing
surface was fairly free from infesta-
ton, but the interior of the tree, where
it requires some effort and labor on
the part of the sprayers to thorough
ly cover the foliage, was in most in
stances badly infested. The deduc-
ton to be drawn was that the proper
care had not been exercised in spray
ing this grove that should have been
given it, else the interior would have
shown less infection as that of the
outer leaves did.
This grove was sprayed three times,
using the same formulas as above
used on the Glynn and Williams grove
and the efficacy of the treatment was
shown by the fact that the fruit was
saved, which, judging by the results
on the unsprayed trees in the Will
liams grove, would either have been
practical total loss or else an enor-
nous reduction and consequent set
back to the trees.
In sharp comparison with these
groves, which have had treatment, was
that of an adjacent grove, which be-
came infected at the same time with
them and had a yield in 1928 of
10000 boxes of fruit, which showed
a yield for the season of 1914 of on
ly 500 boxes. That this was the re-
suit of the whitefy infestation and its
attendant parasites, was shown in
that the trees looked similar to those
not sprayed in the Williams grove and
that spraying could have controlled
the pest and brought back in fruit or
at least saved the crop, as is shown
by the results on the Williams, Glynn
and Mccormack groves.
1t is to be regretted that every CT
trus grower in the State cannot see
with his eyes this practical demon
stration of the beneficial results of
this intelligent handling of one of the
dangers to his industry or be made to
realize the actual benefits that would
accrue to him if his grove is infested.
1t is conceded that whitef1y can not
be eradicated from the State, due to
the fact that there are too many ma
tive host plants which cannot be des-
stroyed; it is also true that the at
tendant parasites are present where
ever whitefiy infestations occur. This
being admitted every effort should be
made for control to the fullest extent |
of this evil and every opportunity
given for cooperation with both the
State and United States entomolo-
gists.
The cost of these sprayings amount
to but little, to cents per box, and
when compared with the saving of |
the fruit and prolongation of the life
of the grove, it is infinitesimal. Too
often parties are unwilling to cooper
ate or else do so in a half-hearted |
manner, patronizingly or indifferently. |
This does not produce best results.
In fact, only partial results, which |
might be classed as poor or fair to
good, and bring distrust on the use of
when the fault is direct
Iy due to the failure to thoroughly |
follow the directions of the expert in |
every detail, for only by great care
and proper handling can best results
be obtained.
There is no monetary interest in
volved to the government expert, as
seems to be the impression among
some of the growers. His interest is