The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-03-09
PESTS THAT DEMAND
IMMEDIATE CONTROL
(By Leroy Childs)

There are several insect pests anu
plant diseases of our different orchard
crops that can only be satisfactorily
controlled by spraying before the foil
age starts. The following suggestions
are offered in controlling the more i'm
portant pests of different fruit trees by
early spraying.
Successful spraying depends upon TAX
ing advantage of the critical period IN
the life history of insect pest or plant
disease almost entirely. and If the op-
pOrtunity afforded is not taken advan-
tage of during this usually very limited
critical period. efforts made too early
or too late are largely wasted. Spon-
taneous appearances of extremely dam
aging insect pests and plant diseases
are usually quite rare. For the most
part the trouble increases from year to
year, ultimately resulting in severe
losses unless precautionary measures
are undertaken. During these periods
of increase the grower should familiar.
ize himself with the troubles that
should be expected the following year
and put into practice the observations
that he has made. Many factors, such
as altitude, temperature and weather
conditions make sweeping recommen-
dations for the timing of sprays impos-
sble and the development or retarding
of plant or insect growth is largely
dependent upon these factors. Growers
should know their individual variances
and put them into practice.
Control of Pests of Peach - The
peach orchards in the valley are sub
ject to several diseases and insects,
control of which can be accomplished
by spraying Immediately with lime-sul-
phur solution. These are peach leaf
curl, San Jose scale and the peach
worm. In Hood River the more seveie
of these troubles is the leaf curl and in
most localities the spray is almost nee
essary for the production of good
crop. Lime-sulphur applied at this
time will prove of some benefit in con-
trolling California peach blight. dis
ease which produces gummy exuda-
tion on the twigs. ultimately killing
them. For the complete control of
this disease it is necessary to spray
both in the fall before the rainy season
sets in and again in the spring before
the buds hurst.
The best all round application for
peach at this time of the year is lime
sulphur, as it acts not only as an in
secticide, destroying the scale and
alternating peach worm, but also a
very effective fungicide. The material
should be used at winter strength, that
is, ] to 10 of water. Bordeaux $3.50
will satisfactorily control the leaf curl.
but will not be effective in destroying
the scale or the peach worm. When
spraying the peaches do not overlook
the other deciduOus trees, cherries,
plums, apricots. etc.. for they are all
very agreeable food plants of San Jose
scale and If neglected will serve as
very effective breeding centers for fur
ther infestations.
Control of Pests of Pear-Of the sew
eral insect pests of the pear there are
only three or four that can be satisfac-
torily controlled by spraying at this
time of the year. These are the pear
leaf blister mite, the cottony maple
scale, the San Jose scale and oyster
shell scale. The blister mite is not a
true insect. 1t is related to the spiders,
is very minute. and can be readily con-
trolled by proper spraying. The mite
attacks both fruit and foliage. NAL
forming both. During the early sum-
mer infested leaves show puffy, patch
like spots on the under and upper sur
faces which later in the seasUn turn
redish-brown. The injury to fruit is
of much the same order, destroying its
marketability.
The period during which control
measures can be satisfactorily applied
is very limited. The mites over-winter
the bud scales in great
numbers and are therefore out of reach
of sprays if applied too early. AS soon
as the leaves start they Immediately
burrow into the leaf tissues and are
soon again protected from a contact
with spray. In view of these facts it
is necessary to watch the growth of
the trees very critically and make the
application as soon as most of the buds
have bursted. but before the leaves
unfold. On account of the great range
in elevation in the valley and the re-
sulting differences in time at which
trees come into foliage it will be i'm
possible to give definite recommenda-
tion as to the exact time to make the
application. Growers should use their
own judgment in this matter and thor
oughly spray the trees with good
pressure. Use lime-sulphur l-lO, at
which strength the San Jose and oys-
ter she'll scale will be destroyed.
The cottony maple scale is of very
limited distribution in the valley and
will usually be found attacking the
Winter Nellis variety. For control use
miscible oil gallons to 100 gallons of
water. This should be applied while
the trees are dormant.
Control of Insect Pests of Apple
There are several insect pests of the
apple which demand attention this
month. These are the leaf-roller,
woolly aphis, San Jose scale and the
oyster shell scale. The scale insects
are not generally distributed in all of
the orchards in the valley and applica-
tions are recommended only in orchards
where they are troublesome. The four
insects mentioned must all be con-
trolled during the dormant season, as
applied after the foliage is
out cannot be used strong enough to
kill the insects without seriously burn
ing foliage and developing fruit.
For the leaf-roller and the woolly
aphis mscible oils will be found to
give the greatest degree Of satisfac-
tion. All orchardists in the Pine Grove
section are urged to use oil this spring
to destroy the egg masses of the leaf
roller. A thorough spraying for this
insect will incidently destroy all of the
woolly aphis that are hit. In control
ling the leaf-roller spraying is directed
towards the destruction of the egg
masses which will be found in brown
ish. pad-like patches on trunk, limbs
and even the smaller twigs of not only
apple but pear, cherry, plum and peach.
In view of the fact that insects deposit
eggs on most all of our orchard trees,
it will be well to spray all of the decid- |
uous trees that an effective cleanup be
obtained. Pruning away the long out
nf-the-way branches will greatly aid in
making thorough application of the
oil. The following formula is suggest
ed for leaf-roller control:
Miseible oil. gallons; water, 100