The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1921-04-21
. Field and
vs. Orchard
IF. E. Bailey, Dist. Hort. }

IF. E. Bailey, Dist. Hort.)
The following spray formula is rec
commended for the control of greer
and rosy aphis, green peach aphis an,
black cherry aphis:
Water 100 gallons, nicotine sulphat,
Sd pint, burned rock lime 2 lbs.
The lime should be slaked with {
small amount Of water before adding
to the water in the spray tank. Il
considerable amount of lime is to b.
used, the entire quantity may be
slaked at one time into a stiff paste
and four to six pounds of the paste
used for each 100 gallons of spray
The lime and nicotine sulphate may be
effectively combined with one of the
lead arsenate sprays.
All aphids are sucking insects and
must be killed by actual contact OF
the spray solution. The lime is eau
site; it acts as spreader and aids
the solution in penetrating the oily
outer covering Of the aphid body Sc
that the nicotine sulphate may poison
the vital tissues. Nicotine sulphate
should never be sprayed without the
addition of some caustic agent to the
solution. Soap, ime-sulphur and oil
emulsions are other caustic materials
Lead arsenate is n6 caustic, which
makes the addition of lime or soap
necessary when nicotine sulphate is
combined with one Of the regular lead
sprays.
High pressure is necessary in spray
ing for aphis control in order to obtain
a fine, driving mist which moistens all
surfaces.
While the above formula has been
found effective in controlling woolly
aphis the following is recommended
where woolly aphis infestation is Sc
we're: Water 100 gallons, nicotine sui
plate 3-4 pint, distillate oil emulsion,
2 gallons.
Both of the formulate given in this
article are for use at any time during
the growing season.
Where woody aphis are present only
in small colonies on the pruning
wounds Of the trunk and lower branch
es they may be destroyed by painting
the infested areas with gasoline by
means Of small paint brush.
Four cages of the common black
spotted red lady bird beetles were
released in orchards in different parts
of Benton County last week oy the
horticultural department. Lady bird
beetles have long been recognized by
California orchardists and fruit, veg
etable and grain growers of Walla
Walla and Columbia counties in Wash
ington for their value in controlling
plant lice or aphis.
The beetles live during the summer
in the orchards, gardens and grain
fields Of the valleys. With the ap-
proach of winter they migrate into
the mountains where they hibernate
in great. colonies or swarms, usually
in sheltered canyon where they seek
the protection of the blanket Of pine
needles beneath the trees.
With the opening Of spring the
beetles begin the journey back to the
lowlands. The trip is made by short
flights with frequent stops to feed;
as a result the beetles take several
weeks to reach the farming country.
By going into the mountains in the
fall or spring and collecting the beet
les, it is possible to have them ready
to iberate on the ranches with tue
start of plant growth. Beetles col
lected in the fall are held in cold stor-
age until spring while those collected
in the spring are released at once.
Each of the four cages released
last week contained sufficient beetles
to spread over forty acres of orchard.
The importation of these beetles il an
experiment which will be watched by
local growers. If the aphis control is
satisfactory it is planned to import
large quantity of beetles this fall.
The beetles were obtained from the
Blue Mountains, at point fifteen
miles east of Walla Walla. Beetles
may also be collected i'm the Cascade
mountains.
One of these cages were released
in the Kennewick Highlands.
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