Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-08-13
POTATO PLANTS
SHOULD NOW Be
EXAMINED FOR LICE

Orono Me. Aug. 1.-THE follow
ing was issued today from the FIX
tension Service. College of Agricul-
ture, University of Maine;
Potato plant lice are attacking
vines in many different parts of
Maine Every infested field is threat
ened with disaster When the lice
are found do not wait to see if they
arc going to increase but spray at
once with tobacco extract. Potato
vines in many places in Massachu-
sets have been killed this summer
by lice where people neglected to
spray for the pest
The Louise is a tiny green bug with
sharp, slender beak (like a moSquitoD
which it thrusts into the stem, leaves
and blossoms of the plant in order to
suck out the sap of the plant. These
plant lice or aphids breed very fast
and soon over-run the potato field IN
n,ultitudes. Their favorite position
is upon the peduncles Of the flower
and they are also found in large clus-
ters and sometimes in immense num-
bers on the stem and on the under
sides of the leaves. Soon the leaves
begin to curl up. then turn yellow and
fall from the plant which is particu-
larly dangerous from the fact that
often the numerous punctures by the
insects serve as entrance pores for
the spores which cause the blight
few of these lice on the plant may
not seem dangerous now but one must
remember that from these few that
YOU find today or tomorrow that there
may develop thousands in short
time. These will suck juice from the
PLANTS and potato plants cannot pro-
duce lice and tubers at the same time.
How to Control the Pest
Do not wait. spray as soon as you
can. Since the insect does not chew
the plant but sucks it's sap, arsenicals
are of no avail. You must use spray
which kills by contact with the body
of the louise. The best materials to
use is one of the nicotine sulphate
sprays such as Black Leaf 20.
Where the vines have not been
may use ounces (3-S of pint of
the nicotine sulphate GO per cent?
tc so gallons of water to which
pounds of soap, dissolved first in a
gallon Of water. has been add
ed To make one gallon or
the spray use one teaspoonful
of nicotine sulphate and an inch
cube of soap. The soap makes the
poison stick to the insect II is i'm
rortant to use a pressure sprayer
which gives fine mist and to spray
the under sides of the leaves where
the lice live in great numbers. MIC
Ctine is a contract insecticide and the
insects must be wet by the spray to
he killed.
When spraying with arsenate Of
lead. Bordeaux mixture, or other sim
liar materials tobacco extract should
be added in the same radio as given
above Do not add soap to the solu-
ton when mixing Black Leaf 4o'
with Arsenate of Lead, Bordeaux
mixture. or other spray materials
Outside of labor involved in spray
ing, the materials for spraying potato
lice will cost 75c for so gallons and
s10.75 for 1000 gallons. Thorough
spraying will require about 100 gal
Ions per acre.
Nicotine sulphate (40 per cent? is
a black, thick fluid which mikes read
ily and dissolves in cold water; it
does not clog the nozzles because the
spray Is a pure liquid; it does not in
lure plants or corrode the outfit: and
it may be used at once after being
put in the spray tank. People who
remember the outbreak Of this pest in
1906 will not hesitate to take early
measures for its control. Only a
swift offensive will clear the potato
fields Of one Of the Kaiser's most en-
ergetic allies in Maine.