The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1935-07-18
CountyAgent's Column
Control of Insects of Plants
J. H. CARTER
Resident County Agent.
Office: Court House, Oakland, Nd.

Control of Insects of Plants
The control of insects of farm and
vegetable crops is a community prob
lem as well as the individuals problem.
1t is very difficult for any one person
to get satisfactory control of pests
if the neighbors and surrounding COM
munity fail to cooperate in combating
insects. A concentrated effort on the
part Of the community using necessary
control measures means a greater sue
cess for individuals within the COM
munity. Other factors entering in the
satisl .ctory and economical control
are proper spraying apparatus, proper
busting or spraying materials and the
thorough application of these mater
ials. The most satisfactory type of
sprayer for the small garden is COM
pressed air sprayer properly equipped
with extension rod and elbow for the
nozzle. The spray materials should
be those recommended by the EXten-
sion Service, or Experiment Station of
the State for the control of the parti-
cular pest. Any other materials may be
used if you know they are economical
and reliable. The materials should be
applied to all parts Of the plant and as
often as necessary to control the pest.
Insects are of two types, namely:
chewing and sucking, therefore the
control measures to be used will de-
pend on the feeding habits of the in
sect. The chewing insects which feed
by chewing leaves or other parts of the
plant are usually killed by applying
some form of poison to the plant. Pois-
ons, however, will not have any effect
on sucking insects since they do not
chew away any parts of the plant but
penetrate the leaves or stems and
out the juice, therefore it is necessary
that contact insecticide be used This
must be applied directly to
the insect There is no advantage in
spraying plants with contact insecti-
cidcs such as Black Leaf 40, rotenone
and pyrethrum sprays unless the spray
comes in direct contact with
the insect. When contact spray comes
in contact with sucking insects it
closes up the small breathing pores in
its body, thus suffocating it.
The Mexican bean beetle, a chewing
insect, seems to be the most serious
pest and can be controlled by stom-
ach poisoning The following is rec
commended: Magnesium arsenate, 4
tablespoons to gallons of water, or
to 1 gallon Of Bordeaux mixture add
l level teaspoonful of calcium or meg
nesium arsenate.
The directions for making a small
quantity of Bordeaux mixture are as
follows:
% Measure 8 gallons of water
into wooden, graniteware or earth
enware container; add 4 ounces or 8
level tablespoons of bluestone and stir
until dissolved.
(2) Mix ounces or heaping ia
blespoonsful of lime into paste with
a little water and add this to the blue
stone solution gradually while stirring
constantly.
DO NOT SPRAY the beans with the
above mixture after the bean pods
begin to form, as these are poison
sprays.
For Mexican bean beetle after the
USdILS nave DeSuH W SeG, use U IdDle-
spoonsful of rotenone to each gallon
of water and spray thoroughly, cover
ing all parts of the plants. This ma
terial is not poison to humans.
Should you be troubled with insects
in your garden be sure you have the
right kind of material and proceed
cautiously, following directions very
olOSalU 0oa Of tho cacratc of anu ron
troll measure is thoroughness in ap-
plying the spraying or busting mater
ial.
Should you desire additional infor-
nation, communicate with your Agri-
cultural Agent, Court House, Oakland.