Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-04-04
Spraying Operations in the
Orchards Of Idaho De-
layed for Several Weeks
by the Character of the
Weather.
BEST METHODS FOR
FIGHTING OF PLAGUE
State Horticultural Inspec-
tor Gives Valuable Infor-
nation on the Insect and
Sounds Warning to Fruit
Growers.
BY e. F. STEPHENS.
President Of the State Board Of Horti-
cultural Inspection.

cultural Inspection.
The character of the winter has been
such that spraying operations for the
control of the san Jose scale have been
delayed. In 1916 we began spraying
March 6; this season March 29. Should
the spring open rapidly only a short
season will be available for the ap-
plication of spray to best advantage.
While it is possible to spray a few
trees with q hand pump, in case OF
trees above. the age Of or 10 years
and older orchards and in all CONNER
eial orchards a power sprayer will be
found essential. If the spraying Is
performed with three and half horse
power engine, capable of carrying a
steady pressure of 200 to $50 pounds,
the work will be more effectively per-
formed. In spraying old orchards for
our neighbors, we spray from tower.
One man on the tower and one man on
the ground enables US to cover all
portions Of the tree.
Since the San Jose scale infests prac-
.tically all portions Of it's best plants
that are above ground-the trunk,
limbs and branches-and when album
u61J IL Ind. tOCCuT Tic leaves anu
fruit, injury results from the extrac-
ton, by the scale insects. of the juices
of the plant. At first this merely
checks growth, but as the insects in
crease In number the speedy killing Of
the branches and twigs follows, re-
sulting finally in the death of the
plants.
NATURAL HISTORY AND HABITS.
The San Jose scale passes the win
ter in an immature condition fixed to
the bark of the host plant, the small
ark-gray or blackish scales being just
discernible with the unaided eye. In
early spring with the ascent of the
trees sap, the growth of the scale be-
gins. The small two-winged active
males issue from the male scales. Aft
er mating with the females the males
die. The females continue to grow
and In, about a month begin the pro-
duction of living young.-minute yell
low, oval creatures-which by very
lose observation may be distinguished
without the aid of a hand lens. crawl
Ing here and there on the infested
plants in an effort to find suitable
iI'lace for settlement. The young in
sect is active for some hours, but soon
settles, pushed its slender, threadlike
beak into the plant, and begins to feed
by sucking out the sap. After this
there is no further movement from
place to place. and the waxy covering,
which oftens begins to develop before
the insect has settled soon covers 1t
completely.
In about IL days the insects mott
and from this time OH the male and
female scales may be readily distin-
guished. From eight to- 10 days later
the males change to pupae, and in
from "a to &c days from birth the
adult males emerge and fecunLate the
females, which In turn reach maturity
and begin the production of young in
from S3 to 40 days from birth. An in
dividual female may give birth, on
the seasonal average, to about 400
young, and as the life cycle of the fe-
male covers but a few weeks there
may be several generations a year, the
number varying according to latitude
The progeny from the parent during
the season has been estimated at L.
SoS.040.200 females. 1t Is thus easy
to understand how the insect can sc
quickly destroy. the plants infested
and why prompt remedial measures
are SO necessary. With the approach
of the cool weather of fall, breeding
gradually ceases and the scales in all