Milford chronicle., 1928-06-01
PETROLEUM AND THE
FRUIT INDUSTRY
By J. G. SANDERS
Entomologist, Sun Oil Co.

The remarkable developments of
science and industry almost daily,
furnish unusual and interesting
new contacts in the business
world. New products are locating
markets in unsuspected channels,
and there seems no end to the adap-
tation of industry's output to mans
needs.
The fruit grower of thirty years
ago never suspected that he or his
sons would be dependent on the pc
! troleum industry for success in
! large orcharding operations. The
day has arrived when the hOrticul-
turist would be seriously handicap
ped if all petroleum products were
denied him. Gasoline, lubricating
oil and grease for sprayers and
tractors; fuel oil for orchard heat
ers in certain spring frost danger
zones; oiled paper for prevention
of scald in storage apples; and
miscible oils and emulsions for
spraying constitute most interesting
developments and adaptations of
one of natures products.
Orchard heating as an occasional
protection against late spring frOsts
is provided in many sections when
valuable crops are subject to frost
damage. Particularly in the west,
orchard heating with fuel oils or
distillates has been adopted widely
and profitably.
Gasoline, lubricating oils and
greases for power .sprayers and
busters have become absolute ne +
cessities in orchard care and fruit |
protection, without which growers |
would be seriously handicapped.
Oiled paper wrappers and pack
ing have shown remarkable value
in preventing ''scald" of apples, par
ticularly certain tender green and J..
yellow varieties under storage con- !.
ditions, thereby enhancing their
market value and keeping qualities.
A half century has elapsed since I
a petroleum product, kerosene en-
ulsion, was introduced and recon-
mended by the entomologists of the
U. S. Department of Agriculture
for control of certain scale insects.
Since that time remarkable changes
have developed in the manufacture
Of the many derivatives of petrol
cum, and certain of these have
come into very general use for the
spraying of trees, shrubs and !,
plants for ready control of certain
pests.
The rapid and serious spread of
apple leaf roller into the far west
ern orchards soon forced the grow
ers to use oil sprays at eight to ten
per cent emulsion strength; and
when properly and thor
)ughly emulsified these oil sprays
have caused no cumulative injury {
Broken down" or separated oil {
often homemade, have {
caused serious dam ]
age.
About eight years ago a wide l
spread serious infestation of San
Jose scale appeared in the Missis-
5ippi Valley States which lime
sulfur solution failed to control
Again the miscible oils and oil en-
ulsions saved the orchards, al :
though thousands of trees were on
the verge of destruction.
Orchards in the New England d,
States, Nova Scotia, Ontario and !
several other northeastern states
are now suffering much injury from
of the European Red Mite,
which damages the foliage causing
a bronzy or sickly condition inter-
fering with the usual leaf functions.
Miscible oils applied in the de-
layed dormant stage have given
much better kill of the over-winter-
ing eggs than the lighter oil emul-
sions and have come into general
use at this stage for control of
scale insects and a check on aphis
as well.
Petroleum miscible sprays seem
destined to supplant the old disa-
greeable caustic lime-sulfur solu-
tions for dormant spraying, while
the diluted summer strengths of
as a fungicide are prov
ing efficient.
The home-mixing of oil emulsions
is always attended with uncertain
ties regarding the oil, soap and
hard water difficulties and is not
generally recommended. A misci-
BILE oil made by reliable manufac-
turer is usually more dependable S
and uniform in quality.
The world may be strong for peace
l.