The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1926-01-21

Tn applying the dormant spray for
scale there are three very important
factors to consider.
The first, and most important of
these factors, is very thoro applica-
ton. It necessitates that the spray
hit each insect in order to kill it..
The scale is many times smaller than
> head of pin, and in many cases
the insects are pretty well scattered
over the tree. If two or three small
scaley twigs are missed or poorly
sprayed, there is an ample number
Of scale left to infest the remaining
tree by the end of the season. To
apply a thoro application of spray
the machine should be in first-class
condition. A pressure of at least $50
pounds should be obtained thru disks
with one-eighth of an inch hole. If
q pressure between 300 and 400
pounds can be obtained so much the
better. The trees should also be pro-
perly pruned to permit the free en-
trance of spray.
The second factor is the time of
application. Many growers have been
spraying too late. The scale is the
weakest just before the sap starts
to flow in the spring. After the sap
starts to flow, at which time they are
about half grown. the scale starts to
feed and recuperate. The longer they
feed the more vigorous they become
and the harder to kill. The most sue
cessful spraying is done before the
green shows from The buds.
There are two scale sprays in use
IN this district. These are the oil
emulsion sprays and lime-sulphur.
The oil sprays will in time be a
better dormant spray than lime-sul-
phur. 1t has given better control Of
orchard insects than me-sulphur in
most all of the experiments that have
been carried on. In orchard practice,
lime-sulphur has given the best re-
suits, due mostly to two reasons. The
main reason is the unstable oil used.
This is no ones fault in particular.
The oil companies have not been CIV
en- well-defned specifications to fol-
low AMI are not responsible for any
unstable oil used. The only instruc-
ton which we have in this regard is
from DR.. A. L. Melander of the state
college. He quotes, "For dormant
spraying the oils that gave the best
results in the experiments Of 1924
were the so called neutral type of lu-
bricating oil. Heavier oils apparently
lack penetration and lighter oils do
not have body enough" Even in the
experimental work this difference has
been noticed and out in the orchards
where the spray is not so thoroly
mixed this difference is more notice.
able. There is no practical way to
test the oils to see if such stock has
been adulterated and nothing more
than an approximate standard or spe-
cltication has been worked out.
The second reason is the careless
ness On the growers part. For some
reason or another, which cause has
not been definitely determined, a
grower is worse off to spray careless
y with than he is to spray care
iessly with lime-sulphur. 1t takes
more skill and more thoro spraying
On the growers part to use oil.
Llme-sulphur is the standard and
well established scale spray. The dis
agreeableness Of its application, and
possibly to get little cheaper spray,
are the only reasons that we should
seek another spray. It's results have
Deen very satisfactory, where thoro
JOB Of spraying has been done. Due
70 the above mentioned results of the
use OF OIL, and due to the necessity of
spraying with lime-sulphur for bis
er mite and peach twig borer. I
recommend that all growers spray
with iime-sulphur this coming season.
a preference should be given the
liquid concentrate. It is the most |
compatible and consistent. In all cas-
IS see that the solution tests at least
:, degrees Baunle in the tank. Rely on
Tue hydrometer rather than the COM
pany recommendations for amount |