The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-03-17
FIGHTING THE INSECT PESTS
6uuqestions From tho Entomologlsf
About Combating Boil Weevile.
Scales, Twig GirdIers, Stored Grain
Insects, etc.

CTS Oh SUuLH SdtOlild nave SOIHC law
70 face with the boil weevil problem
and never before has it been necessary
for them to do as careful planning dur
ing the winter as it is now. The boil
weevil injury is directly dependent up
on the weather conditions. If the sea
son Is moist and favorable for weevil
development, very serious damage is
expected in the southern part OF the
state approximately below a line ex'
tending from Augusta to Charleston,
but severe damage may also be expect
ed in the Coastal counties between
Charleston and the North Carolina line
if the season is wet.
One Of the most important habits
that we must form In general farm
management is to practice farm clean
ing during the fall and winter because
most of our insect pests, including the
boil weevil, find winter shelter in the
dead leaves and grass, and along ditch
banks, fence rows, wood lots, old orch
ards and roadsides Several Of our
most serious pests find winter-quartera
in and around the cotton and corD
stalks during the winter. II for any
reason these stalks have not been prop
erly cleaned up by plowing under, burn.
ing, or otherwise by December first,
it should be done Immediately; and II
any remain by January first, they
should not be allowed to stay one day
longer. In the dead grass, along wood
lots, under bark. and around stumps
that are left in the field millions OF
field crop insect pests winter success
fully. Therefore, farmer should never
fail to look upon the stumps in the
field as winter hotel for the accomo
dation Of farm pests.
The Shot Hole Borer.
In many of the orchards at this sea
son Of the year there are trees that
have the bark full of small holes tbs
size Of a number eight shot. These
holes are made by the shot hole borer
or fruit bark beetle. and as this pest
stays in the bark during the winter In
the grub stage. It is now the proper
time Of the year to give it very close
attention. A tree infested with shot
hole borers is not to be regarded as
sound tree. In most cases it has been
weakened by peach tree borer IN the
crown, or scale on the bark, or both,
and when a tree IS thus weakened II
becomes an ideal breeding ground fof
the shot hole borer. Prune the tree
back thoroughly and cut out all badly
infested branches; But il you do not
intend to burn this material Immediate.
ly, then you might as we'll leave it on
the tree. Burn all pruned material and
do not let It lie IN the orchard.
Control Of Scales.
The Iime-sulphur wash, one OF the
insecticides used for the control OF
scale, may be purchased in the market
or IL may be made at home preferably
BY means of a steam boiler. 1t can also
be made by the use Of large iron ket
tie, provided the correct formula Is
used and directions followed closely,
For information as to where the ma
terial can be obtained write to the Elk
tension Service. Those desiring to
make the material at home by one
method or the other can get full in
formation by writing for Circular 30,
South Carolina Experiment Station
Two of the most generally injurious
scales infesting the shade trees OF our
state are the gloomy scale and the cot
tony maple scale. They infest principal
ly our sugar and silver maple trees.
In the experimental work at this Col
lege lime-sulpher wash has not been
found satisfactory control for either
Of these, but both species can be very
satisfactorily controlled by the applica'
tion of one OF the commercial spray
oils, properly mixed and properly appli
ed. Ask for information concerning tb1s
method Of treatment so that every
possible mistake can be avoided in Oh
tanning the oil, In making correct mix
lures, in making the separation test
and the proper method Of application.
Pecan Twig olrders.
During December and January on
should not forget to take a good look
at the pecan trees. There will be found
twigs that were girdled off by the pc.
,,,, t,yio o.;rdlay Tn s6de NJ these fallen
twigs are the eggs and larvae Of the in
sect, because the mother beetle girdles
the limbs between the point where the
eggs were laid and the tree. These
twigs as we'll as the girdled limbs ly.
ing under hickory trees in the ne!ghbor
hood should be gathered and burned.
Stored Grain pests.
During the winter Is the time to give
the proper treatment to our stored pro-
ducts to prevent injury by the granary
Mann rooIiEn TrSnra