Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-10-20
DORMANT SPRAYING

Dormant spraying is directed agains
those pests which may be most eff
fectively controlled during their rest
Ing stage The absence OF foliage II
winter permits a more thorough ap
plicatlon and the use OF stronger In.
secticides than would be safe on trees
in leaf. Sraying may be done any
time after the leaves drop in the fall
or In winter when the weather warns
up to 40 It.. but Is preferable In early
spring when the buds are swelling as
at that time insects become active and
the spray is more fatal to them.
All sprays used on dormant trees
kill insects by contact rather than by
! poisoning them through the digestive
tract. For this purpose many sub
stancts are used, all of which either
interfere with the insects breathing
or corrodes its body. or both. Those
commonly used for dormant spraying
are lime-sulphur, kerosene or other
miscible oils and soap sprays used un-
diluted or in emulsion.
OF these the lime-sulphur is dis.
agreeable to prepare and use; it
spreads and penetrates poorly, but is
safe. efficient, and has become the
standard dormant spray because of
its wide range of usefulness in con-
trolling nearly all insects that other
dormant sprays control. 1t remains
on the trees in an active condition
extending its usefulness into the sum-
mer as destroyer of insects, fungi |
and lichens which otherwise infest |
them. Nothing is more effective in |
controlling San Jose scale and many
related scale insects, the peartree
psylla, blister-mite. spider mite, and
several other pests.
For those with small orchards it
will probably always be cheaper and
better to use the commercial product,
being careful to follow accompanying
directions however lime-sulphur may
be prepared satisfactorily as follows:
Use lbs. fresh stone lime 5000 or
commercial ground) about 8 gallons
more, calcium oXide); 10 lbs. sulphur
of water. Place a gallon of water in
the cooking vessel and start heating
1t; the lime and sulphur is then
placed in the vessel (the sulphur may
be made to paste to avoid lumpi-
ness). as most convenient. Stir them
Add water as required to slack the
lime properly until the five gallons
are used. Boil about 90 minutes, stir
ring frequently, after which the solu-
ton should be of amber color. The
total volume Of the finished product y
g Mould be 5 gallons. After straining e
out all insoluble material this stock 7
solution can be kept indefinitely If
air Is excluded from it. Y
For accurate work with lime-sulphur I
a Baume hydometer to Indicate the c
is q necessity. The form Z
ula given should yield solution about =
26' Baume and for spraying San
Jose Scale should be used one part
to five of water BY using the same
formula with but 5s as much water t
the finished product will be more c
and should measure n
3B gallons and have concentration
of about 33' Baume. For use dilute
this strength one part to seven of :
water. These strengths are for San e
Jose scale and are too strong except a
for dormant trees. n
Where aphids are troublesome it +
is often practicable to delay the dor
mant spraying until just as the buds
are breaking. and. By adding forty .
per cent Nicotine Sulphate to the C
at the rate of three "
fourths pint per 100 gallons OF spray,
effect combination treatment for :.
both scale and apnids.
In order to be successful spraying
must always be done throughly. 1t 9
IS necessary to reach every part of Il
The trees and for many of our worst s
pests the application must be made G
II n definite and often limited time. :.
The fruit grower owes II to himself
% study the pests affecting his trees o
to enable him to intelli- q
,ently combat them. II