Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-02-19
SPRAYING
OUT
Recommended By Ag.
ricultural Workers
Of the Valley

DONNA. Tex, Feb. l9.-The VAL
ley Agricultural club at its regular
meeting, discussed the matter OF
insect control in an attemp to i'm
prove the spraying situation. The
following schedule is suggested as
being satisfactory in most cases.
The members Of the club realize
that no schedule based upon set
dates Of the calendar can be n
tirely satisfactory, but that such a
schedule may be of some benefit
in helping the growers work out
their own problems. Such q Sched-
ule may help the inexperienced
grower in evaluating the advice
given by well meaning but poorly
informed acquaintance or timer
ant sprayerS.
A review of the discussion follows:
Dormant spray with oil emulsion:
This spray IS recommended when
there Is a heavy infestation Of
scale. It may be applied at any
time from November until the trees
begin to blossom. This application
has been highly recommended by
some agencies, but It seemed to be
the experience Of the majority OF
members present at this meeting
that 1t Is merely an emergency prop
OSltion where there Is a very heavy
infestation or where there is con-
siderable purple scale.
Blossom spray, with lime sulphur:
This is TO be applied when two
thirds of the petals have fallen or
in the two or three weeks following
the end Of the bloom period. Nico-
tine sulphate car be added TO this
when used ct the latter part Of the
blooming period in order TO control
thrip.
1t was agreed that this Is a very
important spray as 1t starts out the
year free OF red spider and rust
mite and will kill any scale crawl
ers that might have Matched at that
time. Growers should make this
spray a part of their program.
Summer oil spray: If the normal
conditions prevail the next spray
that is given will be directed at
scale insects and will consist of a
solution Of oil emulsion. This
should not be applied before the
month of May. or when the fruit
Is / 1-2 inches in diameter. This
will probably be the most effective
spray Of the whole program II timed
correctly. Some growers prefer to
delay this application until July
or wen as late as August. but II
scale is at all numerous, consider
able damage may be done before
that time.
Summer lime sulphur spray: Dur
ing the month OF June there Is
likely 10 be an infestation of rust
mite and red spider and another
lime sulphur spray is to be applied
at this time in order TO keep these
two insects in check and TO kill
any scale crawlerS that happen to
be present at that time.
Subsequent treatment: The last
three sprays mentioned above
should give a comparatively clean
grove. Tree and fruit should be
in fair shape, but there are times
when conditions will warrant the
repeating OF one of the above appli-
cations except the busting with dry
sulphur.
Sulphur in any form should not
be used within thirty DAYS of an
application OF oil emulsion. II
should not be necessary.
Only standard materials should
be used.
Materials should be used accord
ing to the directions OF the manu-
facturer in order to get the best re-
suits.
Do not substitute. Soft water is
best.
Note: No discussion Of materials
OF strength Of materials is attempt
ed here because OF the brief space
and the variations in the various
commercial materials.
The Valley Agricultural club Is
an organization composed OF ex-
pertinent station workers, county
agents. agricultural teachers. citrus
inspectors, farmers and any others
interested in the development of
agriculture in the Rio Grande VAL
lev Of Texas.
II is the purpose of the club to
boost n movement that they
think will be of benefit to the
farmers and to cause improved
methods to be called to the at
tention Of the growers.