The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-07-13
flGAT|NG the INSECT PESTS
Supqestions From the Er4omologir
About Combating Boil Weevi|as
Scales, Twig GirdIers, Stored Grain
Insects, etc

Clemson College. Dec. zS.-The farm
sfs OF South Carolina have come face
10 face, with the boil weevil problem
Ind never before has 1t been necessar!
tor them to do as careful planning dur
Ing the winter as it n now. The boil
~eevil injury is directly dependent up
On the weather conditions. II the sea
son is moist and favorable for veevt
development, very serious damage Il
expected in the southern part Of the
state approximately below line ez
tending from Augusta, to Charleston
but severe damage may also be expect
ed In the Coastal counter between
Charleston and the North Carolina line
Il the season Is wet.
=. One of the most important haoits
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-quarteri
IN aud around the cotton and corr
stalks during the winter. II for any
reason these stalks have not been prop
srly cleaned up by plowing under, burn
Ing, or otherwise by December first
Il 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
Held crop insect pests winter success
fully. Therefore, a farmer should never
fail to look upon the stumps in the
field as winter hotel for the accomo
dation of farm pests. .. +
,s The Shot Hole Borer.
In many Of the orchards at this sea
son OF tho year there are trees that
nave the bark full of small holes the
size of a number eight shot. These
holes are made by the shot hole 1oreI
or fruit bark beetle, and as this pes,
stays in the bark during the winter IN
the grub stage, 1t 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 fol
the shot hole borer. Prune the tree
back thoroughly and cut out all badly
infested branches; But II you do no'
intend to burn this material Immediate.
ly, then you might as we'll leave Il OF
the trec. Burn all pruned. material and
do not let 1t lie in the orchard:
Control OF Scales.
The lime-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. It 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 Ex
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 80
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
Iy our sugar and silver maple trees
In the experimental work at this Coz
iege lime-sulpher wash has not been
found satisfactory control for eithe,
Of these, but both species can be very
satisfactorily controlled by the applsca'
ton OF one Of the commercial spray
oils. properly mixed and properly appli
ed. Ask for information concerning tbis
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 TWlg GlrdIers. ,
Du,rin~ necemher and January one