Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-07-22
CONTACT SPRAYS FOR APhiDs
NEST Effective Means Of Controlling
Insects That Do Much Damage
to Orchards.


9 Department Of Agriculture, con-
tract sprays are the only effective
mesns OF controlling the various kinds
OF aphids, the small insects which by
tesding upon the juices OF the plants
do much damage to the truit ami foil?
ase of irchald rees, culrant, goose
berry and grape. As the aphids do
moi eat The plant tissues but drain the
sep from the various kinds OF sprays
containing stomach poisons, such Rs
Paris sresn, arsenate OF lead. etc, are
ineffective To do any good tie sprays
Must come in contact with the bodies
OF the insects and great throushness
il spraying is therefore necessary.
There are, d large number of diff
fersnt kinds Of aphids. one OF more
OF which may attack almost every
form OF orchard and bush fruit. For
the most part, however. the same
measures Of control are applicable to
all the species. Quite number OF the
aDhid species winter In the egg stage
Oh the plants which they attack in the
following spring. These may be con-
trolled successfully by spraying when
the buds first show green tips OF the
foliage. In this way the first brood Of
the insects is killed and insurance is
obtained against injury later in the
season. Additional spraying may. how
ever, be necessary II the infestation is
severe. The Importance OF early bud
spraying is greatest with those species
OF aphids whose attacks result in curl.
ing the leaves of the plants on which
they feed. This curling serves to pro-
tect the insects 10 a considerable ex.
tent from the contact spray. Those
species which do not curl the leaves
are more easily controlled by sprays
after il is noted that they are becom-
iiis n, leiot5.
Nice inc his been foul 4 to lie one
Of the most caecl!,e ST sant Is for
killing aphids, and as ii may be APP
pied with entire safety to plants it
is possibly the best suited of all the
substances used in the control of these
insects. The cost OF the concentrated
article is high, but as it may be great
ly diluted the actual cost OF applying
the spray compares favorably with
that of other contact sprays. or the
commercial preparations the 40 per
nj. I'M l,.h 10 Ea Inn
in most common use. Weaker grades
may be used ii care is taken that the
spray is made up to contain not less
than 005 or 0.06 per cent Of actual
nicotine.
Nicotine may be added either to the
winter strength limesuiphur solution
used for the San Jose scalc, or TO the
dilute limesuiphur solution and ar.
senate Of lead spray employed in the
control OF insects and diseases Of
fruit aud foliage 1t may also be used
lead and water spray. This is a great
advantage as the orchardist is enabl.
Sd to spray against several pests
simultaneously. II must be reme1n-
bered however, that although the
addition OF soap adds much to the
spreading power and efficiency OF the
nicotine spray, soap must not be used
with lime-sulphur solution.
II is also comparatively simple
matter to make nicotine sprays at
home II tobacco stems or refuse to,
bacco are available In the home
manufacture OF the solution however,
il Is difficult to determine the exact
strength of the decoction since the
various kinds Of tobacco refuse vary
greatly in their nicotine content. In
new publication of the y. s. Depart.
nent Of Agriculture, Farmers Bulle.
tin s04, table showing the number
of pounds Of different kinds of tobac.
CO refuse neededto make nicotine So
buttons Of the right strength is given.
In this connection II is pointed out
thai the stems from which the extract
has been made have value for fer.
tilizing purposes OF about $40 ton.
With tobacco refuse and stems cost.
Ing about $40 ton. the spray solu-
ton can be made for approximately
] cent gallon, the fertilizer value
vi the extracted refuse covering the
cost of labor, etc. The sprays should
be made up as they are needed, for
fermentation begins within day or
two.
Washes made Of 0sh-oil or laundry
sosp are also effective against aphids,
and are especially suitable for use on
n small scale. The fshoil soap of
different brands on the market varies
4. xsestly in water content. 80 that the
precise quantity OF soap to be used
with a given amount OF water will
vary also Manufacturers. however,
are required by the Federal lnsecti-
eide Act Of 1910 to state on the label
the amount OF active ingredients, In
this case saxp, and OF inert ingre-
dents. This will enable purchasers
to make up q solution which should
range nQl / RQnRA- Of -soaR lQl- 3