Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-05

Orono, Me, July 2.-(SpeciaD The
/ following was issued today from the
office of Charles ID. Woods, director of
the Maine agricultural experiment sta
} ton al the University of Maine:
The apple growers of Maine are ia
miiar with the work Of the apple mag
got or railroad worm as il tunnels
through the fruit and with the fact
that these hatch from eggs laid by a
banded winged fly. Many orchardists
! have been interested in the hope held
/ out by recent experimental spraying
that it may be possible to poison off
the flies and thus prevent the appear
ance of the magGots in the fruit.
The two following methods have
been repor: ed to he successful means
Of controlling the apple maggot by poi
soning the parent flies before they de
. post eggs.
h They are offered By the Maine Agri-
cultural Experiment Station as sugges
tons to owners of isolated orchards.
I who have been troubled by this pest
! Any who will test either method and
report results whore favorable or I'M
favorable will be contributing to an
! important subject.
| !. Soluble Poison.
4 Arsenate of soda Cor arsenate Of
! potash)... ..........1 ounce
Molasses CHE stronger the better
..... ..............1 pint
W ater.,. -. ..... ....,...4 gallons
/ Dissolve the poison in little hot
! water and mix with the water and
mola"ses. This mixture will burn
foliage n little. Apply it to scattered
trees Of the susceptible varieties in the
orchard. Use hand spray outfit and
'sn each tree sprayed only cover a place
as large as an umbrella top. The
slight foliage injury to 50 small an area
does not interfere with tree growth.
, This amount Of spray mixture is suf-
ffcicnt for four sprayings in an or
ch2rd Of 20 acres
Tirre Of Applications: The first spray
should be made about July Is and the
last about August Is. The number of
applications necessary would depend
upon the frequency of rain storms.
II. Arsenate of lead:
Formula: Arsenate of lead, paste
form A.. III. ~. ..2 pounds
water. -. 40 gallons
Method of Application: Through leaf
piSN Sutli dS Is CTOln1r1iN DTaCtlcn0
for leaf feeding insects (caterpilars)
Time of Application: The first spray
about July Is and the second two
weeks later, If a heavy rain follows
the second spray it should be repeated.
otherwise two sprays are all that are
necessary.
The theory of the first method is to
have the poison serve as an attractive
bait and thus only a partial spraying is
required. The second method requires
covering all the leaves of all the trees
so that wherever the fly feeds while in
the orchard it will find poison. In case
any one wishes to try the first method
and cannot obtain the poison, this Sta
ton can supply limited amount.
1t is very difficult to secure con-
elusive checks on such experiments as
these both because Of their nature and
because so many factors are involved.
For this reason this notice IS given in
the spirit of suggestion for trial tests
TO such apple growers as may be inter
ested. and is not to be considered in
the light Of recommendations based on
conclusive date applicable to all locali-
ties and conditions. 1t may be said,
however, that the first method has