The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-15
GET RID OF ALL INSECTS
AND fI.ANT DISEASES NOW
tWT.tten for The Lakeland Telegram
by ur. J Petersen. Bureau of
soil chemistry. Miami. Fla

tfMluN 10 ENaNEto OF CNHAAllOIS
.iong agricultural and commercial
lines. a great number of insect pests
ture have found General distribution
in spite of the concerted efforts of
the most intelligent horticulturists
to combat them. Everybody who is
little familiar with conditions in
florida knows that the control or
plant diseases and the destruction of
noA ious insects offer problems of
most vital Importance to farmers and
orchard men.
/ The prospects of successful fighting
those plant enemies probably have
never been SO promising as now. af-
ter the severe freeze which we ex-
PEI fenced lately. Farmers and grow
crs should avail themselves Of tbs
opportunity nature offers TO them.
10 get rid of parasites and diseases
thoroughly at lew expense and
without danger of injuring the trees
through application of chemicals of
lcisonous or at least doubtful ma
ture.
Inspecting a number of groves
We find the bark on numerous trees
more or less split and cracked. Tho
diseased bark should be removed or
- will become the breeding place Of
a multitude of insects which choose
such parts Of the plants which, on
account Of unhealthy conditions. Of
fer the least resistance. II is advis-
abit to cover the wound with liquid
grating wax or some other antisep-
tic that will prevent the settlement
C insects and assist the tree in clos
inr the wound with new bark
II the exposed portions are not Gov
cred stem-end rot funguj wither
tip fungus and other diseases are in
yitod
Most of the trees that were in
jured but not -" w the frost
have by this time dropped their
leaves. As rule the prompt drop
ping of their leaves signifies that the
tree is still alive. but even then,
when all leaves have been shaken off
and when new growth is appearing
ahundantly every tree needs careful
individual inspection in order to as
certain TO what extent the bark has
been damaged
IN dead wood ought to be pruned
o1lt now and the cut branches should
H. burned. It is Of great import
aacc to cut all dead twigs back TO
sound wood If this is not done
properly the dead stubs are often
Infested by a borer and the twigs
are caused to die back continually
until all dead wood Is removed
Careful attention to destruction of
ell dead wood cannot be urged too
y. IOUSlN II lllt lWlSS dlt hiioNtu
to remain on the ground they will
propagate all kinds of fungi which
eventually will spread to the trees
injecting leaves and limbs.
All fallen leaves should be gath
cred together and be destroyed be-
cause they are the hosts of fungus
VII Oh cause withertip scab and
conditions n great number Of insects
wore in developing stage when
Itck Frcst captured them by sur
prise While the frost has killed n
great number of insects eggs and
larvae the pupae of some insects. for
instance. white fly. is not much af-
fected by the freeze The destiuc-
,ticr of the dead leaves therefore
means the destruction of millions OF
pf easites and bearers of disease.
Setting fire to a heap of leaves
would he the safest way to destroy
al insect life but this method is not
dictated by economy The leaves con-
tain lots Of nitrogen and humus
making materials which are too
precious to he sent up into the clouds
ana which ought &c be restored to
The soil
Burning the waste products is the
r,cs, foolish nractice that costs the
Florida farmer several millions an
nHTlly
The hest methcd would he to
Gather all leaves to treat them with
insect killing chemicals. to change
tncm into compost and to mix them
with finely ground soft phosphate.
trL.. restoring valuable plant food to